The Assassin (2015 film)

The Assassin
Directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Written by Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Chu T'ien-wen
Zhong Acheng
Xie Haimeng
Starring Shu Qi
Chang Chen
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Cinematography Mark Lee
Distributed by Tartan Films
Release dates
  • May 2015 (Cannes)
Country Taiwan
Budget CN¥90 million (US$14.9 million)[1]

The Assassin (Chinese: 聶隱娘) is an upcoming Taiwanese martial arts film directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. It has been selected to be screened in the main competition section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.[2]

Plot

The film is set during the mighty Tang Dynasty-period in Chinese history.[3]

Cast

Production

"I haven't shot a movie in six or seven years. It's really a whole new world for me because the market is now so big, because of China. So the scale is much bigger, and that makes every detail different, so now even I have to adjust my scale."

—Hou Hsiao-Hsien[3]

The film received several subsidies from the Taiwanese government: in 2005 of NT$15 million (US$501,000), in 2008 of NT$80 million (US$2.67 million) and in 2010 of NT$20 million (US$668,000).[4][5] However, over the production, Hou encountered various budget problems; thus over half of the film's final budget came from China, a first for Hou's films.[1] As of September 2012, its budget was CN¥90 million (US$14.9 million).[1]

Reflecting on the film's long shooting period and a much bigger budget than his previous films, Hou stated "I haven't shot a movie in six or seven years. It's really a whole new world for me because the market is now so big, because of China. So the scale is much bigger, and that makes every detail different, so now even I have to adjust my scale."[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Stephen Cremin (14 January 2014). "Hou Hsiao-hsien's Assassin wraps". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "2015 Official Selection". Cannes. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Staff Reporter (20 November 2013). "Golden Horse Talent: Hou Hsiao-hsien". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Stephen Cremin (31 July 2013). "Hou's Assassin stops production (again)". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Stephen Cremin (20 March 2013). "Taiwan cinema: north or south?". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 15 January 2014.

External links