'Yi Yi' director Edward Yang dies

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 2 (UPI) -- Edward Yang, heralded as one of the world's best but least visible filmmakers, has died in Beverly Hills, Calif., of colon cancer at age 59.

Yang, who died Friday, was born in Shanghai but moved to Taiwan at an early age, was one of the directors who rejuvenated Taiwan's cinema through so-called New Wave films, Variety reported Monday. New Wave films are known for their realistic and sympathetic portrayals of Taiwanese life.

His best-known work was "Yi Yi: A One and a Two" a family drama that earned him the director prize at 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

Yang focused on urban and societal development themes, evidenced in "Mahjong," in which modern urban-Taiwan is seen through foreign eyes, and "A Brighter Summer Day," a sprawling examination of youth gangs, Variety said.

Yang announced this year that he would make "The Wind," a $25 million animated movie to be co-produced with Jackie Chan. The project was cut short when Yang became ill.