The Assassin

Synopsis

“Any purist fearing that Hou Hsiao-Hsien might have compromised his artistic integrity by making a wuxia/kung fu film will be mostly reassured by the long-gestating “The Assassin”. This is not a venture into wire-work and acrobatics but a contemplative, often ravishing-looking immersion in the complex politics, power struggles and personalities of the Tang Dynasty as seen through the moral dilemmas facing an enigmatic trained assassin. The combined attractions of Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s return, the gorgeous cinematography, the subject matter and the trim running time should be strong enough to attract substantial arthouse audiences. (…) Clearly influenced by classic Kurosawa and Mizoguchi, the film also underlines the cross-fertilization between wuxia films and Hollywood westerns, as Shu Qi’s black-garbed assassin evokes both the frontier guardian angel of “Shane” and the spirit of Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” in her ultimate adherence to a higher moral code than her life of violence. Shu Qi makes the character’s steely resolution and conflicted heart entirely convincing.” (Allan Hunter, Screen International)

Tuesday, 01.12.2014 – 9.45 pm, Screen 6 (presented by Pia Marais)
Saturday, 05.12.2015 – 10.00 pm, Screen 8
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With the support of the Taiwanese Embassy

Theatrical release Germany: March 2016