A female assassin receives a dangerous mission to kill a political leader in eighth-century China.A female assassin receives a dangerous mission to kill a political leader in eighth-century China.A female assassin receives a dangerous mission to kill a political leader in eighth-century China.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 36 wins & 75 nominations total
Nikki Hsieh
- Huji,Tian Ji'an's concubine
- (as Hsieh Hsin-ying)
Ethan Juan
- Xia Jing, the aide-de-camp
- (as Juan Ching-Tian)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the film, the actors speak classical Chinese which was mostly used for literary texts and almost never spoken. The final version henceforth includes Chinese subtitles.
- Alternate versionsIn Japan, the film has been released with an additional footage contains the scene involving the Mirror Polisher (Satoshi Tsumabuki) and the wife of the Mirror Polisher (Shiori Kutsuna). This version is only available on Japanese Blu-Ray from Shochiku Home Video but without English subs.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2016)
Featured review
A different kind of Wuxia
Probably the best way to watch "The Assassin" is to play it as 1.5 times the speed. On a serious note, the film takes Wuxia to an entirely different level. If Ozu had made Wuxia films then probably those films would have looked something like "The Assassin". Watching the film is like studying a life in slow motion. While the detailing is meticulous, the storytelling style can best be described as tedious. The action sequences, although beautifully choreographed, are minimalistic in style.
In her third collaboration with the master Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Shu Qi delivers a mesmerizing performance while playing a part that's tender and feral in equal parts. It's difficult to detest the ferocious killer she has become. It's difficult not to fall in love with the assassin who once was a princess. It's difficult not to be in awe of Hou Hsiao-Hsien after watching the film. It's difficult to wipe off the images from one's mind long after the end credits begin to roll. It's difficult to watch it just once.
For more on the world of cinema, please visit my film blog "A Potpourri of Vestiges".
In her third collaboration with the master Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Shu Qi delivers a mesmerizing performance while playing a part that's tender and feral in equal parts. It's difficult to detest the ferocious killer she has become. It's difficult not to fall in love with the assassin who once was a princess. It's difficult not to be in awe of Hou Hsiao-Hsien after watching the film. It's difficult to wipe off the images from one's mind long after the end credits begin to roll. It's difficult to watch it just once.
For more on the world of cinema, please visit my film blog "A Potpourri of Vestiges".
helpful•1911
- murtaza_mma
- Oct 19, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Thích Khách Nhiếp Ẩn Nương
- Filming locations
- Kyoto, Japan(castle park and garden)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $632,542
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $47,892
- Oct 18, 2015
- Gross worldwide
- $11,991,669
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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