One of my favorites is Yimou Zhang. Almost all of the films I've seen of his have moved me one way or another. When I see his name attached to a movie, I'll make an effort to see it. There are not many current director's (in any language) I can say that for.
Some of my favorite films of his are...
To Live (Huozhe) (1994)
Probably my favorite of his. One of the most moving films I've every seen...it stayed with me for days afterward. Great story, acting and they way it was all put together...
Raise the Red Lantern (Da hong deng long gao gao gua) (1991)
This was the first of his I'd seen. Beautifully done, and boy, did this make me feel...sad and angry (woman issues).
The Road Home(Wo de fu qin mu qin) (1999)
A bitter sweet story that again touched me. I love the sensitivity Yimou Zhang has for these smaller, more personal type's of stories than in the bigger/flasher types like
House of Flying Daggers (which I still liked, just not as much as some of the others).
I also liked...
Happy Times[/b] (Xingfu shiguang) (2000)
Not One Less (Yi ge dou bu neng shao) (1999)
Hero (Ying xiong) (2002)
and...
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (Qian li zou dan qi) (2005)
Simple story with alot of heart. I liked Zhang's touch in this sensitive look at relationships and situations so much better than the big 2006 bruiser
Curse of the Golden Flower.
Which brings me to the only film of his that I didn't like..
Curse of the Golden Flower
It was pretty to look at...at times...but it was so over done in every aspect, which was very disappointing to me. Zhang usually makes you feel for either his characters or feel for their situations, which is what I love about him. But, ehhh...this was just a lets just make a tragic check list and check everything off as we go and be done with it.