Lust, Caution | Se, jie (2007)

Synopsis

Based on the revered short story by Chinese author Eileen Chang, Lust, Caution (in Chinese Desire, Danger) stars Asian cinema icon Tony Leung, newcomers theater actress Tang Wei and Asian pop-star Wang Lee-Hom, by award-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain). Shanghai, 1942.

The Japanese occupation of China continues in force. Mrs. Mai, a woman of sophistication and means, walks into a café, places a phone call, and then sits and waits.

She remembers how her story began several years earlier, in 1938 China. She is not in fact Mrs. Mai, but shy Wang Jiazhi (Tang Wei).



With WWII underway, Wang has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England.

As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yumin (Wang Lee-Hom). Kuang has started a drama society to shore up patriotism.

As the theater troupe’s new leading lady, Wang realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences – and Kuang.

He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yi (Tony Leung). Each student has a part to play; Wang will be Mrs. Mai, who will gain Yi’s trust by befriending his wife (Joan Chen) and then draw the man into an affair.

Wang transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted – until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Shanghai, 1941.

With no end in sight for the occupation, Wang – having emigrated from Hong Kong – goes through the motions of her existence. Much to her surprise, Kuang re-enters her life.

Now part of the organized resistance, he enlists her to again become Mrs. Mai in a revival of the plot to kill Yi, who as head of the collaborationist secret service has become even more a key part of the puppet government.

As Wang reprises her earlier role, and is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit…

Cast: Tang Wei, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Wang Lee-Hom, Joan Chen, Tou Chung Hua, Chu Chih-ying

Venice (Competition): Golden Lion, Best Cinematography, Sergio Trasatti Award - Special Mention, London (Gala), Toronto (Special Presentations)

Read about this film

Country: China | Hong Kong | United States | Taiwan
Language: Cantonese | English | Hindi | Japanese | Shanghainese | Mandarin
Color: Color
Runtime: 157 min.