Chinese Oscar-winning director Ang Lee, 67, was awarded the Légion d'Honneur, the highest French order of merit. Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the honor was retained by subsequent French governments.
Lee, one of today's greatest movie directors, won the Oscar for best director twice, in 2013 for Life of Pi, and in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. His Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won the best foreign-language film Oscar in 2001. Last December marked the 20th anniversary of the release of the martial arts period drama.
In 1979, Lee went to the U.S. to study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in theater. Later, he received his master's degree in film production at New York University.
