Why Hou Hsiao-hsien’s final masterpiece is a beautiful, empty Ming vase of cinema
In short: The Assassin is a wuxia film that defies genre conventions, trading fast-paced action for a glacial, meditative stillness. Loosely based on a ninth-century short story, this visually arresting work explores the moral burden of a lethal killer, leaving critics divided over whether its deliberate ambiguity is profound or merely hollow.
Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Assassin (2015) represents a radical departure from traditional martial arts cinema. Set during the mid-Tang dynasty’s Zhenyuan era, the film follows Nie Yinniang, an assassin raised by a nun to eliminate corrupt officials. When she refuses to kill her cousin, the military governor of Weibo, she is cast out for her emotional failures. The film’s narrative is intentionally oblique, focusing on atmosphere and formal artistry rather than clear-cut exposition, a choice that has polarized audiences and critics alike.
The production was a massive international undertaking, requiring years of development and significant financial backing. While the Taiwanese government provided multiple subsidies between 2005 and 2010, the project faced persistent budget issues, eventually relying on China for more than half of its final CN¥90 million budget. Filmed across Hubei, Inner Mongolia, and northeast China, the production sought to evoke the aesthetic of classical Chinese paintings, utilizing silver birch forests and lakes to create a world of absolute, almost unknowable gestures.
Critical reception highlights the divide between those who view the film as a masterpiece of stillness and those who find it frustratingly obtuse. Supporters praise its visual beauty and the expressive power of its silence, with Sight & Sound magazine naming it the best film of 2015. Conversely, detractors argue that the film prioritizes aesthetic perfection over character depth, likening it to a beautiful but empty object. Whether viewed as a poetic atmosphere or a shallow exercise in style, the film remains a landmark in Hou’s career, marking his final directorial effort before his retirement in 2023.
Ultimately, the film serves as a meditation on the human condition within a rigid, historical framework. By stripping away the typical pleasures of the wuxia genre, Hou forces the viewer to confront the tension between duty and mercy. As critics have noted, the film’s beauty is undeniable, yet its refusal to offer easy answers ensures that it remains an enigmatic, challenging experience that continues to provoke debate years after its release.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Assassin (2015 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-the-assassin-2015-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
