Film from the underground

"I read about Ang Lee's story and that he spent years being a `house husband,' walking the kids in New York's Central Park, yet thinking of his scripts and movie ideas. Then, I thought, I should try a bit harder and hang in there on the movie road," he said.

Like Ang Lee who waited seven years for a directing opportunity, Li Yang waited for six years to shoot the US$450,000 budget Blind Shaft, his debut film financed principally by investors in Germany.

Li's next film should not take so long to make and will be about a young man's memory of the Cultural Revolution. It is tentatively called Red Passion (紅色激情). Li said his father's experience, who was imprisoned and beaten to death by red guards, will be in the story. But, will such a story get permission by China's State Film Bureau?

"We'll see." Li said with a calm look.