THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN (1999)

KAIGE CHEN

Drama Art House Before Christ (BC)Romance Biopic Recommended

Cast

LI GONG FENGYI ZHANG ZHOU SUN ZHIWEN WANG XIAOHE LU YONGFEI GU

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.