It's nice to see that all China is reveling in the Oscar win of "Chinese" director Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain. In a China Daily story that somehow manages to omit all mention of Taiwan, or Lee's Taiwanese origins, it is reported that the film's "best director" win is apparently being greeted with rapturous joy by Chinese everywhere. Note, especially, the florid opening sentence, which drives the "Chinese" point home with all the subtlety of Lee's regrettable previous film, The Hulk:
Ang Lee is the pride of Chinese people all over the world, and he is the glory of Chinese cinematic talent.

That is the refrain reverberating among many cinephiles and professional filmmakers in China after news that the director of "Brokeback Mountain" won the Best Director Award at the 78th Academy Awards.

Lee is the first Chinese to receive the honour, considered the highest in American cinema and the most influential worldwide.

"I'm deeply proud of him," gushed Kate Wang, granddaughter of Wang Dulu, whose martial arts novel inspired Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000.

Kate Wang, a public relations executive at the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, said she considered Lee a family friend and that his win is one more testament to his colossal talent at exploring the subtleties of human feelings.

"Ang Lee's movie is very touching. It's simple but perfect," commented Zhang Yuan, a Chinese film director of the "Sixth Generation." "I sincerely congratulate him. He is the pride of all Chinese directors everywhere."
Q: Where is the other hand?
Of course, rank and file Chinese people will have to take it on faith that Lee has engineered a cinematic triumph in their name, as the epic based on Annie Proulx's short story is of course banned in China, where gay cowboys are apparently beyond the pale. Perhaps the censors will be less "outraged" now that Lee is a national hero?

No, I'm not holding my breath either. Fortunately, Chinese people everywhere can still pick up the pirate DVD for the usual low price, as long as they don't mind denying national hero Lee the bucks he should rightly be earning due to his artistic triumph.

Note: IrelandOnline link above via the Peking Duck.