Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien | Taiwan/China/Hong Kong/France
Mandarin w/English subtitles | 2015 | Fiction | 107 mins
Best Director at Cannes Film Festival 2015
Film Source: Well Go USA
Taiwan’s official submission for this year’s Oscars is a stunning masterwork by renowned director Hou Hsiao-hsien (A Time to Live, A Time to Die; Café Lumière). Set during the Tang Dynasty of the 9th Century in China, The Assassin transports the viewer to the distant land and time through its meticulously recreated mise-en-scène and ravishing cinematography. Acclaimed Taiwanese actress Shu Qi (Three Times; The Transporter) is mesmerizing in her portrayal of the titular assassin who, after failing to execute a mission, is commanded to kill her betrothed, forcing her to choose between her sworn allegiance to the order and her devotion to the one she loves. This may be the most visually arresting film in this year’s festival and needs to be seen on a big screen.