David O'Connell
Lust, Caution (Se, Jie)
January 17th 2008 22:00
This movie has been on my radar for almost a year, with the news that director Ang Lee was going to return to China to make a Mandarin-language film that contained explicit sexuality.
Sex in cinema has been almost non-existent in Mainland China, with movies from Hong Kong and abroad getting heavily edited before being allowed to be screened. This is changing, I believe, as Chinese directors require added realism in their films.
I've never been a huge fan of Ang Lee's work, but "Lust, Caution" destroyed the fragile embers of my mind, last night. It opened at the Palace to a small, elderly crowd, but I was enraptured for the long running time, over 2 1/2 hours.
The movie is set in 1940s Shanghai, when the Japanese have occupied the city; some of the less patriotic Chinese have formed into a collaborative coalition with the Japanese, helping them ferret out spies.
The leader of this investigative police force is Mr. Yee, played by Tony Leung (who played a similarly dashing figure in the eternally mesmerizing "In the Mood for Love"). He's considered a traitor, and a group of young thespians attempt to infiltrate his compound in order to assassinate him.
Mr. Yee likes women, it seems, because he falls for one of the spies, falsely named Mak Tai Tai, played by Tang Wei, who tries to seduce him into letting his guard down.
Based on the novel by esteemed author, Eileen Chang, "Lust, Caution" is a brilliantly executed film, with Ang Lee paying particular attention to the sets and costumes, making everything as realistic as possible.
That's just the backdrop though... Lee is content to let Tony Leung and Tang Wei fight each other through gestures and subtle suggestions. It's electric, the tension in the air, and it spooked me into gasping for air in the cinema.
Tony Leung, everyone knows, is an incredible actor. That's no surprise. I was expecting that from him.
Tang Wei, on the other hand, was a shock. This is her first movie, selected from over 10 000 actresses, and she absolutely nailed it. She's a young girl, and she acts like one, giggly and uncomfortable - all until she has to pretend to me Mak Tai Tai... then it's a glorious change of character, and she's sparring with the best of them.
Earlier this month, I commented on David Denby's article in the New Yorker, where, among several things, he pointed out that romance in cinema is heightened if the male and female leads are intellectual equals.
Absolutely. "Lust, Caution" proves to be an extreme example of that. Though Mr. Yee is in a superior position, and has social dominance, there's no denying that Mak Tai Tai is able to stand up to him. Very little is spoken, and nearly every question and reply is loaded with meaning.
A lot of noise has been made about the sex scenes, which are very graphic - so much so, that, in fact, Ang Lee has been asked whether or not they were real (He refused to answer the question). They happen midway through the movie, and they caught me off guard... even though I was expecting it, I didn't expect THAT.
I'm forcing myself to stop here because I could discuss "Lust, Caution" for pages, and I wouldn't want to ruin the story for anyone - at least, not more than the media already has.
Despite the attention it's received abroad, "Lust, Caution" is a movie that doesn't pander to Western audiences. In fact, much of the subtext in the movie is disguised in mahjongg games, quick looks and sly comments... this is, I hope, a movie that Chinese people can really latch onto. Shanghai has never looked better, the actors are all fabulously attractive and elegant, and the air is tinged with excitement.
One of the best movies of 2007.
I say: This is the tricky part.... should you see it? My concern is that a western audience may not appreciate the subtleties in the film, taking it for face value. My advice would be to see it with some Chinese friends, and have them explain what's going on. I still don't understand the battle of wits at the mahjongg table.
See it for: The sex scenes have to be seen. I was frightened, at first, by the ferocity, but as the two leads settle into a ravaging lust, it's wildly erotic. I've been supercharged all day.
* this image is from IMDb
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
I too love 'In the Mood for Love'. What a fantastic film with a *haunting* score...
p/s...have u watched "2046"? Wondering what u thought of it... Same suave Tony Leung in it.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
you should definitely see this, I think!
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Yes...will def watch this! The trailer has been haunting me since your hint of it last year...!
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
So, just how graphic is graphic? I mean, are we talking In the Realm of the Senses or 9 Songs graphic? Well, actually, those were unsimulated sex scenes, and my guess is Ang Lee had his actors simulate, yes?
I appreciate Ang Lee's boldness, I wish more "commercial" directors were able to be so bold. And I wish the MPAA's conservative board of censors would crumble ... and realise that adult films can be made for adults that aren't porn, but feature elements of the same kind of explicitness. Don't get me started.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Naturally, it's not as realistic as visibly unsimulated, such as In the Realm..
Me, too, I appreciate his gutsy move, not editing the movie for release in the States.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I mean there have been several over movies over the years where critics and audiences have wondered if the actors were really doing it: Betty Blue, Postman Always Rings Twice, Don't Look Now, Wild Orchid, and others ...
Comment by Cibbuano
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It looked pretty real up there, though it could have easily been faked. I guess the more important issue for me is that it was terrifying, then heavily passionate. Ang Lee got out all the good lighting to make the pair look amazing.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
As for Tony, yes, I believe there's a scrotum shot ... lol
Comment by Cibbuano
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I didn't see History of Violence, though I've only heard good things about it.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I loved Ang Lee's The Ice Storm and Eat Drink, Man Woman. Thought Ride With The Devil was a great modern western. The rest are a mixed bag.
Lust, Caution looks like a return to his early and has certainly piqued my curiousity Your review has served to heighten it into the realm of "Must See".
Got to love bold sexuality in context, something sorely missing from a lot of more exploitive works.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Cibb, great review, very keen to check this out. I already wanted to see it, just from the title, which I think is interesting, but am now very much pumped for it.
Michaelie
Comment by Wayne F
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
ravaging lustpassionate scenesThe Mahjong scenes, I think the subtleties there are best understood if one knew the game -- which I don't quite but thought it subtly played on the relationship(s) of Mr & Mrs Yee and Mrs Mak.
It's truly all that you've said, and more. ...in terms of the ending, I'm a bit *annoyed*...but I guess all in the name of love...
Comment by areta