Taiwan's Ang Lee, director of Brokeback Mountain, fielded congratulatory calls on the film's seven Golden Globe nominations from his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, Tuesday.

"The hardest thing for me is to stay calm," he said.

Lee was nominated for his direction of "Brokeback Mountain," while actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams were also cited. The picture was also nominated for best drama, screenplay, score and song.

What made Lee happiest was knowing that after a strong opening weekend and support from not only the Globes but also New York and Los Angeles film critics, the gay cowboy romance will now reach a wider audience.

"When we started making the movie, we assumed it would have a very limited release," he said. "It will be interesting to see how it plays when it goes wider, out of the art houses. We don't know what to expect. ... Maybe there was so much love put into the movie that in the nicest way, people embrace the movie and encourage other people to see it."

The Golden Globes will help to bring attention to the film around the world, Lee said. "Usually, cowboy movies are not a popular genre outside the United States, but we are learning every day how people respond."

Lee will continue on the promotion trail he has been on since the Venice International Film Festival in August.

(Shenzhen Daily December 16, 2005)