At Cannes, Asia's star shines

One by one they paraded to the stage in the Grand Palais to speak their thanks, usually in English, to the jury and its Asiaphile president, Quentin Tarantino. Maggie Cheung accepted the Best Actress scroll with her usual cool poise, while her director and ex-husband Olivier Assayas squirmed in his seat. The Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul solemnly dedicated his Prix du Jury (third place) for Tropical Malady to his recently deceased father. And so it went. Four of the eight award winners at this year's Cannes Film Festival were from East Asia. By the end of the ceremony the only surprise...