Event

The Killer

Location
National Museum of Asian Art
–
Films, After Five
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Considered one of the greatest action movies of all time, The Killer has influenced everyone from Quentin Tarantino to Robert Rodriguez, Luc Besson, and even the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, who sampled it on his album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

Chow Yun-fat stars as Ah Jong, a contract killer wracked with guilt for accidentally blinding a nightclub singer named Jennie (Sally Yeh) while doing a hit. He resolves to perform one last job to earn the money for surgery to restore her sight. Made at the height of John Woo’s creative powers, the film combines furious action scenes with melodrama and humor—for example, the famous scene in which Ah Jong and his cop pursuer (Danny Lee) balance teacups and pistols and pretend to be pals while Jennie serves them tea.

Director: John Woo (Hong Kong). Released: 1989. Length: 111 min. Format: DCP. Language: Cantonese with English subtitles.
Image courtesy of GKIDS

On View At

Side-by-side view of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, each with banners at the entrance and surrounded by greenery
National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is made up of two buildings—the West Building (Freer Gallery of Art) and the adjoining East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery).
Location
Washington, DC
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Museum