from actress to director
 

POSTED ON 11.10.2025

Stunning actress of Hou Hsiao-hsien’s œuvre, Shu Qi, presents her intense directorial debut Girl, premiering in Lyon!

© SpotFilms
The Assassin (2016)

Taiwan-born Shu Qi has lived in Hong Kong since she was seventeen. A multi-award-winning actress, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Asian cinema: Ann Hui, Andrew Lau, Alan Mak, Jiang Wen, Stanley Kwan, Stephen Chow, Jackie Chan... But it was brilliant filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien who brought her fame, magnificent roles, and sparked a desire: to become a director! 

In 2001, the world discovered Shu Qi in the opening sequence of Hou Hsiao-hsien's anthology Millennium Mambo. Shot from behind, she saunters along to the rousing rhythm, arms swaying, cigarette in hand, for four minutes. She represents the modern girl whose restless demeanour masks her existential melancholy, and we long to follow. Yet she was not originally intended for the role, replacing Maggie Cheung at the last minute.

In Hou Hsiao-hsien’s films, Shu Qi's portrayal and presence take on an unparalleled dimension. Under his direction, the artist acts as if liberated, filmed like a magnificent, enchanting butterfly. In Millennium Mambo, she plays the role of an accomplished but tormented city dweller who cannot stay still, is surprised by nothing, and seems to be experiencing everything for the first time. The role leads her to the Cannes Film Festival, paving the way for international stardom.

In 2005, Hou Hsiao-hsien directs her in Three Times, a trio of stories. Although virtually devoid of dialogue, she appears in almost every shot. Such is the charisma of Shu Qi: knowing how to express everything through movement alone. She deploys a subtle interplay between modern naturalness – always giving the impression that she doesn't know she's being filmed – and the opaque visage  of the extraordinary historical heroine, as in Hou Hsiao-hsien's The Assassin (2016). For this magnificent role, she transforms herself into a skilled warrior in 9th-century China, who must kill the man she still loves. In this gorgeous film, Shu Qi fights, flies over rooftops, casts her mysterious gaze and speaks very little. Highly committed to the project, she even performed her own stunts during filming. 

2025 is a banner year for her. She takes on a non-dialogue role again in Bi Gan's Resurrection, where her character acts like she is in a silent film. And her greatest adventure has come courtesy of Hou Hsiao-hsien (again! as ever!), who has inspired her to helm her first feature film, Girl, which is based on the memories of her troubled childhood shrouded in violence, with an alcoholic father and a tension-filled mother. This sensitive and unflinching œuvre will screen at Lumière alongside Millennium Mambo and The Assassin. Just to make sure we’re covering all our (cinematic) bases.  

Virginie Apiou

Masterclass
Meet with Shu Qi
On 12 October at 2.30pm at the Pathé Bellecour movie theatre

Screenings

Millennium Mambo by Hou Hsiao-hsien (Qianxi manbo, 2001, 1h59)
Pathé Bellecour Sun12 4.45pm  | Institut Lumière (Hangar) Mon13 4.45pm

The Assassin by Hou Hsiao-hsien (Cikè niè yinniang, 2016, 1h45)
Comœdia Sun12 8pm | UGC Confluence Tue14 2.30pm

Girl by Shu Qi (Nühai, 2025, 2h10)
Comœdia Mon13 8.15pm