(2015) dir Hou Hsiao-Hsien w/Shu Qi [105 min; DCP]
Legendary Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien wowed last year’s Cannes Film Festival (where he won Best Director) with this awe-inspiring take on the traditional wuxia film. The story is simple, if elusive – in 9th-century China, a young woman (Qi) has been trained as an assassin since childhood. After 13 years of exile, she is ordered to return to her homeland and kill her beloved. She must confront a choice to sacrifice the man she loves or break forever with the sacred way of the righteous assassins. Rich with shimmering, breathing texture and punctuated by brief but unforgettable bursts of action, THE ASSASSIN is a martial arts art film like none made before it.
“Masterful. The best film of the Cannes Film Festival. Everyone was, in one way or another, ravished.” – John Powers, NPR
“Hou’s kinetic yet serene approach to martial arts is like watching a fast-moving river. It’s less about the plot and body count and more about contemplating a story rich in symbols and multiple meanings.” – Peter Howell, Toronto Star
“So ravishingly lovely that tracking the plot is far less important than luxuriating in the images.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Click showtime to purchase tickets:
- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
- Fri 1/15 at 7:15 PM
- THE ASSASSIN
- Fri 1/15 at 5:00 9:45 PM
- MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
- Sat 1/16 at 12:00 4:45 9:30 PM
- THE ASSASSIN
- Sat 1/16 at 2:30 7:15 PM
- TANGERINE
- Sun 1/17 at 1:30 3:30 5:30 7:30 PM
- ROAR
- Sun 1/17 at 9:30 PM
- GIRLHOOD
- Mon 1/18 at 2:15 7:00 PM
- THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL
- Mon 1/18 at 4:45 9:30 PM
- THE PEARL BUTTON
- Wed 1/20 at 7:15 PM
- THE LOOK OF SILENCE
- Wed 1/20 at 5:00 9:15 PM
- THEEB
- Thu 1/21 at 7:15 PM
- JAUJA
- Thu 1/21 at 5:00 9:15 PM
- 99 HOMES
- Fri 1/22 at 7:00 PM
- CRIMSON PEAK
- Fri 1/22 at 4:30 9:30 PM
- THE FORBIDDEN ROOM
- Sat 1/23 at 2:00 7:00 PM
- THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
- Sat 1/23 at 4:45 9:45 PM
- SHAUN THE SHEEP
- Sat 1/23 at 12:00 PM
- SHAUN THE SHEEP
- Sun 1/24 at 12:00 PM
- COURT
- Sun 1/24 at 2:00 7:00 PM
- GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM
- Sun 1/24 at 4:30 9:30 PM
- THE TRIBE
- Mon 1/25 at 8:30 PM
- GOODNIGHT MOMMY
- Tue 1/26 at 9:30 PM
- CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA
- Wed 1/27 at 4:30 7:00 PM
- IT FOLLOWS
- Wed 1/27 at 9:30 PM
- HEART OF A DOG
- Thu 1/28 at 7:30 PM
- A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH…
- Thu 1/28 at 5:15 9:15 PM
Brattle Passes accepted.
Special, Usher, and Producer members reserve passes here.
Brattle Film Notes
Repertory Series Archive • (Some of) The Best of 2015
The Assassin
Buy Tickets
Double Feature with MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
(2015) dir Hou Hsiao-Hsien w/Shu Qi [105 min; DCP]
Legendary Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien wowed last year’s Cannes Film Festival (where he won Best Director) with this awe-inspiring take on the traditional wuxia film. The story is simple, if elusive – in 9th-century China, a young woman (Qi) has been trained as an assassin since childhood. After 13 years of exile, she is ordered to return to her homeland and kill her beloved. She must confront a choice to sacrifice the man she loves or break forever with the sacred way of the righteous assassins. Rich with shimmering, breathing texture and punctuated by brief but unforgettable bursts of action, THE ASSASSIN is a martial arts art film like none made before it.