In pre-unified China, the King of Qin sends his concubine to a rival kingdom to produce an assassin for a political plot, but as the king's cruelty mounts she finds her loyalty faltering.
Cinematography
Every frame looks like a museum scroll come alive.
Costume
500 extra artisans built sets; you can FEEL the labor.
Acting
Gong Li's eyes do three acts of tragedy without words.
Director
Chen Kaige
Gong Li
Lady Zhao
Zhang Fengyi
Jing Ke
Li Xuejian
Ying Zheng
Wang Zhiwen
Marquis Changxin
Sun Zhou
Prince Yan Dan
Chen Kaige
Lu Buwei
Pan Changjiang
Prison Official
Zhao Benshan
Gao Jianli
Ding Haifeng
Qin Wuyang
Zhou Xun
Blind Girl
Lü Xiaohe
General Fan Yuqi
Kong Qinsan
Liang Shi
Gu Yongfei
Queen Mother
Li Qiang
Han Shi
Li Hongtao
Li Si
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Chen Kaige spent $20 million, then the most expensive Chinese film ever—part of a 1990s 'fifth generation' director arms race with Zhang Yimou's 'Hero'.
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