movie poster for THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN

Flicks ID

10119

Cert

12

Running time

155 mins

Country

Format

DVD

THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN (1999)

KAIGE CHEN

Plot

A beautifully made, but somewhat ponderous, account of the first Chinese emperor, as the Qin province militarily defeats the last remaining six rival provinces to unite China for the first time. The story revolves round the king's love for his empress and her eventual betrayal of him by falling for the assassin she has sought as a stool pigeon for an attempt on his life. Lots of epic compositions and stagey mannerisms.