Leading actors in "The Assassin" have hit Cannes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwanese director Hou Xiaoxian’s (侯孝賢) new martial arts epic “The Assassin” (聶隱娘) is vying for the top prize at Cannes Film Festival 2015.

The director and the leading actresses and actors have arrived in the southern city of France for the movie’s world premier on May 21.

Hou has been working on the film for close to a decade and he reportedly went to great lengths in making sure that the sets and costumes for “The Assassin”, based on a story in Tang Dynasty, fit the time period. The result  of his hard work is eagerly anticipated by movie distributors. Well Go USA Entertainment couldn’t wait for “The Assassin” to hit Cannes. The distributor earlier this week acquired its North American rights.

Meanwhile the Festival is getting under way with Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman among the notables due to attend. Other stars, among them Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey, are expected to appear during the 12-day event (May 13-24). Sienna Miller and Jake Gyllenhaal will sit on a competition jury headed by sibling duo Joel and Ethan Coen. France is well-represented in the race for the festival’s top prize, making up five of the 19 Palme d’Or entries.

Chinese film “Mountains May Depart” (山河故人), directed by acclaimed director Jia Zhang-ke (賈樟柯), will also compete for the festival’s top prize Palme d’Or.