1.  Chinese director Ang Lee serves up this sweetmeat without fuss, without the super-seriousness of filmmakers awed by their literary material.

2.  In the sequence by the Chinese director Zhang Yimou, a couple on the Great Wall shed traditional garb and become rock-and-rollers.

3.  Jude Law plays a vampire in London in this English-language story from the Chinese director Po-Chih Leong.

4.  Many Chinese directors have made films underground.

5.  Some Chinese directors have been effectively barred from making films in China after trying to circumvent the official system.

6.  Stories of ancient Chinese emperors are favorites of modern Chinese directors, and no wonder.

7.  Other more independent-minded Chinese directors are complaining about increasing censorship and financial hardship.

8.  After having being banned from Cannes, a movie by Chinese director Zhang Yimou was featured Tuesday at the Venice film festival.

9.  Among other guests at the event were the Swiss president, Ruth Dreifuss, Lebanese singer and poet Fayrouz, British violinist Vanessa Mae and Chinese director Zhan Yuan.

10.  But the focus was Asia, from dazzling Japanese animation and the gritty realism of the newest wave of Chinese directors to a Sri Lankan love story.