1951 - undecided
Zhang Yimou has no idea who the hell the first four were. I can't claim I do, neither. (maybe cuz the 5th Gen were all part a the fifth graduating class at the Beijing Film Academy?) But after doing his stint at the Beijing Film Academy he off an cinematographed (real word? you care?) Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth, which let the world know China had more to offer it than propagandic 'social realism' or party favor curriers or those little Sammy Sosa dolls with the bobbing heads you get at Cubs games. Chen went on to do high romance epictures shot through those Playboy patent yellow filters, Zhang went on to do Red Sorghum and Gong Li, for a long long time, most of his work after really being a vehicle for her more than for his vision, and showing it, missing the cool balance and deliberation of Sorghum, and that muddy shot, and a lot else besides...but that's all for later.
Films
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Stuff in bookform
Zhang Yimou on the web