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IMDbPro

The Assassin

Original title: Cike Nie Yin Niang
  • 20152015
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
Trailer for The Assassin
Play trailer2:35
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionDramaHistory
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.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
17K
YOUR RATING
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
  • Writers
    • Cheng Ah(screenplay)
    • T'ien-wen Chu(screenwriter)
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shu Qi
    • Chang Chen
    • Yun Zhou
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
  • Writers
    • Cheng Ah(screenplay)
    • T'ien-wen Chu(screenwriter)
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shu Qi
    • Chang Chen
    • Yun Zhou
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 137User reviews
    • 242Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award

    Videos3

    The Assassin
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch The Assassin
    The Assassin
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch The Assassin
    Exclusive Clip
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Exclusive Clip

    Photos998

    Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
    The Assassin (2015)
    The Assassin (2015)
    Shu Qi and Satoshi Tsumabuki in The Assassin (2015)
    Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
    The Assassin (2015)
    The Assassin (2015)
    Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
    Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
    Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)
    The Assassin (2015)
    Chang Chen and Shu Qi in The Assassin (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shu Qi
    Shu Qi
    • Nie Yinniang
    Chang Chen
    Chang Chen
    • Tian Ji'an, governor of Weibo
    Yun Zhou
    Yun Zhou
    • Lady Tian
    Satoshi Tsumabuki
    Satoshi Tsumabuki
    • The Mirror Polisher
    Dahong Ni
    Dahong Ni
    • Provost Nie Feng
    Mei Yong
    Mei Yong
    • Yinniang' Mother
    Chen-Yu Lei
    • Tien Xing (Yinniang's Uncle)
    Nikki Hsieh
    Nikki Hsieh
    • Huji,Tian Ji'an's concubine
    • (as Hsieh Hsin-ying)
    Ethan Juan
    Ethan Juan
    • Xia Jing, the aide-de-camp
    • (as Juan Ching-Tian)
    Fang-yi Sheu
    Fang-yi Sheu
    • Princess Jiacheng…
    Jacques Picoux
    Jacques Picoux
    • Lady Tian's Teacher
    Shao-Huai Chang
    Shao-Huai Chang
    • Chiang Nu
    Leon Dai
    Leon Dai
    • Tian Xu
    Ti-Ying Hsueh
    Ti-Ying Hsueh
    Jack Kao
    Jack Kao
    • Yuan Yi
    Fang Mei
    Fang Mei
    • Yinniang' Grandmother
    Chun Shih
    Chun Shih
    • Old Man
      • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
    • Writers
      • Cheng Ah(screenplay)
      • T'ien-wen Chu(screenwriter)
      • Hsiao-Hsien Hou(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 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.
    • Quotes

      Xia Jing: [subtitled version] The way of the sword is pitiless. Saintly virtues play no part in it.

    • Alternate versions
      In 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Rohan / Duc de Rohan
      Music by Pierrick Tanguy

      Performed by Bagad Men Ha Tan and Doudou N'Diaye Rose

    User reviews137

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    if you're only interested in fighting and killing, this might not be the film for you
    I'm surprised by the bad reviews on IMDb. I think the problem is that a film titled "The Assassin" happens to attract a certain type of audience--people who are only interested in martial arts flicks, or who walk in expecting an action-packed adrenaline ride. You might be disappointed in this film, but I don't think this movie was meant for you.

    A previous review mentioned the "depressed, stilted tones" of the actors.

    I don't know what you were expecting ... an assassin during the Tang Dynasty to burst out into song about her inner anguish and emotional turmoil? I watched an interview with Hou Hsiao-hsien, the director who won the prestigious Best Director award at Cannes for this very film. He used a tennis analogy to explain it perfectly, so I'm just going to paraphrase below:

    "If you watch the tennis greats like Federer or Nadal battling it out, there's not much expression on their faces. The speed that they're going at, the power in each exchange, there's no room for emotions."

    The director, Hou, actually instructed Shu Qi (The Assassin) to tone down her expressions. The crew filmed the fight sequences again, and again, and again, until the actors were all bruised up and the fight flowed naturally, by instinct. By this point, there was really no need for dialogue or excessive expressions.

    If you're an assassin fighting for your life, kill or be killed, are you really going to be thinking "let me get my blue steel pout ready for the camera"?

    If you can get over the need for overly dramatic expositions and go into a film knowing the main character only has approximately nine spoken lines, and if you can enjoy a film for how starkly beautiful it is.... this might be the film for you.
    helpful•172
    49
    • itsuki04
    • Jul 31, 2015

    FAQ9

    • Is 'The Assassin' based on a book?
    • Who is the assassin in the golden mask?
    • Is a Chinese cultural context needed?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 2015 (China)
      • Taiwan
      • Hong Kong
      • China
      • Official site (Japan)
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Kyoto, Japan
    • Production companies
      • SpotFilms
      • Central Motion Pictures
      • Sil-Metropole Organisation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 45 minutes
      • Color
      • Black and White
      • Dolby Digital

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