Edward Yang Has Died

Edward Yang - simply put, one of the very few greatest film directors of all time - has died, aged 59. He died on Friday, from 'complications from colon cancer'.

Yang's last film is perhaps his best known, Yi Yi or A One and a Two, at least in the UK and US. So far, it is the only film in his catalogue to be available through Criterion, though several prior DVD releases of the title featured a commentary track from Yang and if you don't want to stretch to Criterion prices, pick any of them up. His greatest film, I'm sure, was A Brighter Summer Day - I'm sure because it's definitely one of the five best films of all time.

I've never been able to find A Brighter Summer Day on DVD but I caught a TV screening years ago and, in one of my favourite trips to the cinema, saw it at the ICA shortly after the release of Yi Yi in England (me and about twelve other people - which has always annoyed me; where were you all?). If you ever have a chance to see this film - even if you'll have to drive a few hours to get to it - then do so.

Incredibly, over a hundred 'amateur' actors take on significant roles in Day across the four-hour running time. Yang managed to attain an almost entirely consistent, not to mention consistently compelling, convincing and fresh bank of performances.

Yang's grasp of mise en scene and montage were exemplary, his ambition and scope genuinely awe inspiring and the depth and sophistication of his characterisations and narrative and thematic construction belie only brilliance of cinematic thinking and understanding.

This came out in lumps, and was clunky, because I only found out the news seconds before writing the first words of the post. But I love Yangs films - love them - and I had to say something now, so that you know.

Tales Of A Festival

A huge archive of footage from the Cannes film festival has gone online today. Clips can be streamed for free, while many can also be purchased for around 50p-75p a pop to download.

The database is fully searchable and users can also submit their own clips shot during the fest.

Here are some of my favourite clips found in my first, rather cursory, search through. Be aware that many have French narration with no subtitles and, very often, if anybody does sepak English, they have a French translator mixed over the top.

Groucho Marx talks about the political aspect of his films, and Alfred Hitchcock plays detective on a boat.

Interview with American director Quentin Tarantino in Paris about the upcoming release of his movie Pulp Fiction, recipient of the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Festival de Cannes.

Extract of the award ceremony and Grand Prix to If... by Lindsay Anderson.

The winners of the 36th festival: Andrei Tarkovski, the Monty Python team, Hanna Schygulla and Gian Maria Volonte.

The Palme d'Or at the 53rd Festival de Cannes this evening crowns Dancer in the Dark, the film from Danish director Lars Von Trier. Icelandic singer Björk, who plays the heroine in this musical drama, won the Best Actress Award. Interview with Lars von Trier (about Björk) and interview with Björk. The Best Actor Award is bestowed on Tony Leung for his role in In the Mood for Love; Jiang Wen for Devils on the Doorstep; Taiwanese filmaker Edward Yang receives the Best Director Award for Yi Yi.