Cannes-winner ‘The Assassin’ coming Oct. 30

At the best of times, world cinema comes to Spokane. One of those times will be Oct. 30 when the film "The Assassin" ("Nie Yinniang") comes to the Magic Lantern Theater.

Why should you see it? For one thing, the film is Chinese. It tells the story of a woman raised in martial-arts training and educated as an assassin. When told to return to her family home and kill the man to whom she was once supposed to marry, she must choose between her life's work — and love.

Two, the film won an award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Taiwanese writer-director Hou Hsaio-Hsien was given the festival's Best Director Award, beating out such notable filmmakers as Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, Denis Villeneuve, and Maïwenn (who directed the 2011 Cannes Jury Prize winner "Polisse").

So mark Oct. 30 on your calendar (I use my iPhone). For those who appreciate both the larger world and the cinema it creates, "The Assassin" is a must-see movie.