The most expensive Asian film ever, Chen Kaige's five-chaptered epic passed through four incarnations before he settled on this mammoth version. Even so, the complexity of late third-century Chinese history means it's not always easy to follow the shifting alliances and devious strategies. Ying Zheng (Li) and his concubine, Lady Zhao (Gong), seek a shortcut to unification by convincing rival states of his invincibility and stage-managing an assassination attempt. Taking Fifth Generation opulence to the point of pictorialism, Chen has fashioned an emotionally sterile allegory that challenges the current Chinese leadership's bellicose attitude towards Taiwan and attacks the prevailing consumerist mentality.
The Emperor And The Assassin Review
Ying Zheng (Li) and his concubine, Lady Zhao (Gong), seek a shortcut to unification by convincing rival states of his invincibility and stage-managing an assassination attempt.
Release Date:
21 Jul 2000
Running Time:
161 minutes
Certificate:
12
Original Title:
Emperor And The Assassin, The
Not always easy to follow, but a serious challenge to the Chinese government's attitude to Taiwan and the prevailing consumerist mentality.
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