Director Hou Hsiao-Hsien of “The Assassin” grabbed the Best Director award during the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, marking the 17th Cannes award China has earned since its first win in 1975.
"The Assassin" follows the story of a highly trained female killer (played by Shu Qi) who was sent back to her home province to kill its governor. The film was set in 9th-century China, at the end of the Tang Dynasty.
Taiwan-born actress Shu also earned nod from film critics for her top-caliber performance in the movie, which features precise and well-crafted action and fighting scenes.
According to Hou, he wanted to make a film away from the conventional kickfest-style martial art-themed titles.
China's first production film to snatch a prestigious Cannes award is "A Touch of Zen," helmed by King Hu in 1975. The film, which revolves around Ku, an unambitious scholar and painter, won the Technical Grand Prize.
Fifteen years after, "Ju Dou" won the Luis Bunuel Special Award, giving the country its second Cannes tilt. The tragic story of a beautiful young woman who was sold as a wife was the core of the film's plot.
In 1993, two movies--namely, "Farewell to Concubine" and "The Puppet Master," another Hou film--won the Palme d'Or Prize and Jury Prize, respectively.
For the next two consecutive years, China added new Cannes awards with the films "To Live" (Grand Jury Prize and Best Actor Prize) and "Shanghai Triad" (Technical Grand Prize).
"The Emperor and The Assassin" grabbed the Technical Prize in 1999, while "In the Mood for Love" won the same title in 2000, on top of the Best Actor Prize. In the same year, "A One and A Two" and "Devils on the Door Step" won the Best Director Prize and Grand Jury Prize, respectively.
For 2001 until 2013, China added five more Cannes tilts including "Millennium Mambo" (2001, Technical Grand Prize), "Shanghai Dreams" (2005, Jury Prize), "Luxury Car" (2006, Prix Un Certain), "Spring Fever" (2009, Best Screenplay) and "A Touch of Sin" (2013, Screenplay).