The Assassin

In “The Assassin,” directed by Hsiao-Hsien Hou, a highly skilled female assassin named Nie Yinniang is sent on a mission to kill a powerful governor in 9th-century China, but she faces a moral dilemma when she discovers the target is her former lover. The film is a visually stunning exploration of duty, loyalty, and the personal conflicts that arise from a life of violence.