Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang, is a captivating tale of desire and espionage set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II. Wong Chia Chi (Wei) is a student recruited by Kuang Yu Min (Leehom) into the Chinese resistance movement. With the goal of aiding the assassination of Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee (Leung), Wong must seduce and earn the trust of the enemy.
Wei makes a fine turn in her cinematic debut. At once vulnerable and seductive, innocent but vigilant, she brings a masterful complexity to Wong; Leung is equally magnificent as the cautious Yee.
With gorgeous cinematography and a haunting score, Lust, Caution sensualizes the backdrop of 1940s China. At one point in the film, Yee states that "if you pay attention, no thing is trivial." That certainly is the case with Lust, Caution. Every detail, from games of mah jong to surreptitious glances, adds to the story.
Lee caused quite a stir when he refused to tone down the movie's NC-17 love scenes, but these moments are key in conveying the essence of Yee and Wong. Although the two must guard themselves, their carnal desires ultimately force their true passions to the surface. Yes, the sex is explicit - let's just say that the audience gets to know the actors quite well in just a few short minutes - but this rawness strips away layers from the characters (metaphorically and literally), giving a full picture of their emotions. Thus, though Lust, Caution is a bit long-winded, its striking and erotic fabric makes it a remarkable piece of cinema.
