The Assassin, 2015. Directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Starring Qi Shu, Chen Chang, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Shao-Huai Chang and Yun Zhou. SYNOPSIS: An assassin accepts a dangerous mission to kill a political leader in seventh-century China. Almost immediately, as the first shots in stark black and white open on-screen, it’s not a stretch to say that The […]
29th Leeds International Film Festival Review – The Assassin (2015)
The Assassin, 2015. Directed by Hsiao-Hsien Hou. Starring Qi Shu, Chen Chang and Satoshi Tsumabuki. SYNOPSIS: An assassin in 7th century China accepts a mission to kill a political leader. Arthouse martial arts is a problematic concept. On the one hand, ‘arthouse’ suggests serious, high-minded fare; on the other, ‘martial arts’ conjures up thoughts of […]
29th Leeds International Film Festival Review – The Assassin (2015)
The Assassin, 2015. Directed by Hsiao-Hsien Hou. Starring Qi Shu, Chen Chang and Satoshi Tsumabuki. SYNOPSIS: An assassin in 7th century China accepts a mission to kill a political leader. The Assassin is not the film you’re expecting it to be. In that way, many will be disappointed. It’s not Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and […]