THE ASSASSIN (12A, 106 mins) Drama, Thriller
Qi Shu, Chen Chang, Satoshi Tsumabuki. Written by Cheng Ah (as Zhong Acheng) and T'ien-wen Chu. Director: Hsiao-Hsien Hou
HSIAO-Hsien Hou's Mandarin-language martial arts epic, set in ninth century China, may just be the most visually ravishing film you will see all year, replete with stunning cinematography courtesy of Mark Lee Ping Bin.
A nun called Jiaxin (Fang-yi Sheu) abducts Nie Yinniang (Qi Shu) from her family at the age of 10 and moulds the girl into a ruthless assassin, who will slay corrupt government officials on Jiaxin's command.
At first, Yinniang kills to order, but she fails to slaughter one target because he has a young son who would be orphaned. Jiaxin punishes her weak-willed protegee with an assignment designed to test Yinniang's resolve and turn her heart to stone. She is sent to the province of Weibo, where she grew up, to kill military governor Lord Tian Ji'an (Chen Chang).
Not only is he Yinniang's cousin but he is also the man that she was destined to marry at one time. Confronted with this handsome face from the past, Yinniang obeys Jiaxin and edges close to her prey, overcoming the governor's henchmen as she prepares for the kill.
THE LAST DIAMOND (15, 106 mins) Crime, Drama,Thriller
Yvan Attal, Bérénice Bejo, Jean-François Stévenin. Written by Eric Barbier and Marie Eynard. Director: Eric Barbier
THE theft of a world-famous diamond pits scheming criminals against one another in Eric Barbier's high-stakes thriller. Professional safecracker Simon (Yvan Attal) is paroled but he refuses to curb his larcenous ways and joins his usual partner-in-crime Albert (Jean-Francois Stevenin) for a series of low-level stings.
These lead to daring plans for the heist of the century: the legendary Florentine diamond which is valued at €40 million. The stone is about to be auctioned by a young woman called Julia (Berenice Bejo) following the death of her mother.
Simon kindles a romance with Julia in order to get close to his target and the diamond. Operating under the instruction of the gang's boss, Scylla (Antoine Basler), Simon seduces and charms Julia, who is blissfully unaware that she is the target of an elaborate swindle. When she discovers the deception, Julia has a surprise for Simon and his fellow thieves.
