The Emperor and the Assassin

A truly epic and immersive period film, The Emperor and the Assassin tells the story of an emperor who attempts to unify China - and of the servant who reluctantly tries to kill him and put an end to his master plan. Director Chen Kaige is one of the giants of modern Chinese cinema, and received full support from Chinese authorities to complete this film, which stars Gong Li in the role as the emperor's concubine and secret agent. A complex melodrama that rivals Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Barry Lyndon in its grandiose battle scenes.