The Emperor and the Assassin [Jing Ke ci Qin Wang] **** (1998, Li Gong, Fengyi Zhang, Zhou Sun, Li Xuejian) – Classic Movie Review 9178

Director Chen Kaige’s dazzling, rivetingly compelling, exquisitely made 1998 Chinese period drama The Emperor and the Assassin [Jing Ke ci Qin Wang] is set in the 3rd century BC and chronicles the efforts of an Emperor, Ying Zheng (Li Xuejian), to gain control of the seven ancient kingdoms.

Gong Li is luminous as the Emperor’s concubine Lady Zhao, who falls for Jing Ke (Zhang Fengyi), a killer she has been sent as a spy to win over.

It is a stunning looking film, and Zhao Fei’s cinematography is astounding. It is filmed in the Mandarin language. The budget was $15,000,000.

Also in the cast are Sun Zhou, Wang Zhiwen, Lu Xiaohe, Chen Kaige, Gu Yongfei, Zhao Benshan, Ding Haifeng, Pan Changjiang, Zhou Xun and Li Xuejian.

The Emperor and the Assassin [Jing Ke ci Qin Wang] is directed by Chen Kaige, runs 162 minutes, is made by Shin Corporation, Beijing Film Studio, China Film Co-Production Corporation, Nippon Film Development and Finance, Shin Corporation, Canal+, New Wave Company and Pricel, is released by Sony Pictures Classics (1999) (US) and Columbia Pictures Corporation (2000) (UK), is written by Chen Kaige and Wang Peigong, is shot by Zhao Fei, is produced by Han Sanping, Iseki Satoru and Shirley Kao, and is scored by Zhao Jiping.