WASHINGTON — OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, a national membership-driven organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of APAs, congratulated director Ang Lee for receiving the Oscar for best director on Sunday in Hollywood.
“We applaud Mr. Lee for this monumental accomplishment in film and visual arts,” says Sharon M. Wong, OCA national president. “The imagery expressed in his films is only matched by his humility and grace.”
Born in Taiwan, Lee grew up learning about culture, art, and history. He studied in the U.S., where he completed his bachelor’s degree in theater in 1980. He later went on to direct several groundbreaking films, including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (Oscar for best foreign language film), “Brokeback Mountain” (Oscar for best director), and “Life of Pi,” which has grossed nearly $600 million worldwide.
His other films include “Sense and Sensibility,” “The Ice Storm,” “Ride with the Devil,” “Hulk,” “Lust, Caution,” and “Taking Woodstock.”
In addition to a long list of cinematic accomplishments, Lee is the first individual of Asian descent to win the Academy Award for best director.
Also nominated were Michael Heneke for “Amour,” “Benh Zeitlin for “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Steven Spielberg for “Lincoln,” and David O. Russell for “Silver Linings Playbook.”
“Mr. Lee’s life of perseverance and determination mirror many stories of those in the APA community,” says Tom Hayashi, OCA executive director. “His trailblazing work has inspired millions and has laid a foundation for aspiring APA filmmakers.”