After all, Hou Hsiao-Hsien is first and foremost a Chinese filmmaker. This obvious statement is an affirmation in itself in the sense that. contrary to filmmakers of his generation from The People′s Republic of China, he is not worried about exporting himself by means of an intermediary decorative exoticism, nor bowing to western principles of dramatic art. Quite to the contrary, the roots of his inspiration go very deep into traditional Chinese aesthetic, and history. (Olivier Assayas)