ZhangYimou(bornNovember14,1950or1951)[1][2]isaChinesefilmdirector,producer,writerandactor,andformercinematographer.[3]HeiscountedamongsttheFifthGenerationofChinesefilmmakers,havingmadehisdirectorialdebutin1987withRedSorghum.[4]
Zhanghaswonnumerousawardsandrecognitions,withBestForeignFilmnominationsforJuDouin1990andRaisetheRedLanternin1991,SilverLionandGoldenLionprizesattheVeniceFilmFestival,GrandJuryPrizeattheCannesFilmFestival,andtheGoldenBearattheBerlinInternationalFilmFestival.[5]
OneofZhang'srecurrentthemesistheresilienceofChinesepeopleinthefaceofhardshipandadversity,athemewhichhasbeenexploredinsuchfilmsas,forexample,ToLive(1994)andNotOneLess(1999).Hisfilmsareparticularlynotedfortheirrichuseofcolour,ascanbeseeninsomeofhisearlyfilms,likeRaisetheRedLantern,andinhiswuxiafilmslikeHeroandHouseofFlyingDaggers.