Review of Lust, Caution (2007) by Steve W — 02 Nov 2011

A powerful and erotic look at loyalty and love in World War II era Shanghai. Young stage actress Wong Chia Chi and her troupe become actors, trying to infiltrate and kill government official Mr. Yee (Tony Leung). The result is a 2.5 hour morality tale full of beauty and ambiguity.

I really must commend Tang Wei in her performance. She starts out as an innocent little woman, and is thrust into adulthood way too early for the sake of her acting troupe's leader's plans for espionage. We see a gradual character arc and her development with the sadistic Mr. Yee, and she performs as well as the stone faced and cold Tony Leung.

The reviews are mixed because the film drags on a bit and is very long. There are also numerous extended sex scenes that look rather real. (they might be) These are small complaints, as the whole package is a brilliant tale with some great looking set design and some beautiful scenes.

Not to be missed, Ang Lee's Lust Caution is a triumph and deserved its awards. Especially for that scene in the whore house. That scene almost had me in tears.