Zhang Ziyi and Liu Ye given French honor

Zhang Ziyi and Liu Ye were made Chevaliers in the Order of Arts and Letters by the government of France at a ceremony in Beijing. Established in 1957, the Order recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature and has been bestowed upon such luminaries as T.S. Eliot, Elisabeth Söderström, Václav Havel and Wong Kar-wai.

Zhang Ziyi accepting her new medal:

Posing with Liu Ye:

Congratulations from John Woo:

Zhang Ziyi is part of the semi-official family at the Cannes Film Festival. She was on the Camera d'Or jury in 2006 and the jury for Un Certain Regard in 2013 when she stayed a few days after her duties were officially over in order to present the Golden Camera award to Anthony Chen for his debut film "Ilo Ilo". Not sure what Liu Ye's connection to the land of Liberté, égalité, fraternité is his marriage to acclaimed photographer Anaïs Martane.

People's Daily; Sina Englsih; China Daily; IFA Gallery