Assassin -2015- !!link!! — The

Visually, The Assassin is arguably one of the most stunning films of the 21st century. Cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-bing paints with light. The film is overwhelmingly composed of deep blacks, rich crimsons, and vibrant jades. Hou famously decided to shoot in black-and-white (sort of) before settling on a desaturated color palette that mimics the look of old Tang Dynasty paintings.

While traditional wuxia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon emphasize gravity-defying action, Hou Hsiao-hsien uses . Combat in The Assassin is realistic and over in a flash, serving as a brief disruption to the film's prevailing stillness. The true "action" is internal, focusing on the protagonist's moral struggle. 2. Narrative and Historical Context the assassin -2015-

This is not a film about the thrill of combat; it is about the stillness surrounding it. The movie teaches the viewer to watch the edges of the frame, to listen to the ambient noise of the Tang Dynasty world. The "action" is in the hesitation of a hand, the averted gaze of a lover, or the rustling of leaves in a forest. Visually, The Assassin is arguably one of the