"Lust, Caution" **** (out of ****)
So much has been made about Ang Lee's lastest feature film, that it has almost caused as much controversy as his last feature film "Brokeback Mountain". It seems Mr. Lee is a filmmaker that doesn't shy away from pushing people's social buttons.
But oddly enough this WW2 film set in Shanghai, dealing with the Japanese occuption of China, has much in common with Lee's previous film about gay cowboys. Both films are about the repression of love or to some extent sex. The same could also be said about one of his other masterpieces "The Ice Storm".
"Lust, Caution" stars Wei Tang (making her film debut) as Wong Chia Chi. A young girl who joins a theater troupe headed by Kuang Yu Min (Lee-Hom Wang) which puts on patriotic productions to bring the Chinese people together and reject Japan's occuption.
One day Kuang informs his troupe of a Chinese traitor, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung, star of two of Kar Wai Wong's masterpieces, "2046" and "In the Mood for Love"). Kuang decides that the troupe should assassinate Mr. Yee and so an elaborate plan is hatched to make Wei Tang, Mr. Yee's lover in order to gain his confidence.
The film received an NC-17 rating, which was the reason for the controversy. But, people who have been avoiding this film for fear it is really a porno in disguise are mistaken. The film is not offensive at all. In fact there should have been more sex scenes and they should have been more graphic than what we see on-screen.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this just for the sake of saying it. Sex, as in most films, is not presented as an act between two people in love. Sex in this movie is a device for power. It is a way of hiding what people are really thinking. It is something done to gain control of a situation.
Wei Tang enters this affair fully knowing Mr. Yee may be killed by her people at any moment. There is also the fear Mr. Yee will find out real her identity. She uses sex to gain power and his trust. Mr. Yee uses sex for power.
Overall Mr. Lee's film is a masterpiece. One of the best films of 2007. But there are a few weak moments. For one Mr. Yee is not made out to be enough of a villian. Mr. Yee should have been a truly evil person. A heartless man. The viewer should have seen some of his dealings. Selling out the Chinese people.
But, "Lust, Caution" doesn't go down that path. It does however remain consistent with it's story, which was based on a novel written by Eileen Chang. The film also offers impressive cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto, who shot Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" as well as Oliver Stone's "Alexander". His work here resembles classic noir films but romanticizes them, making the film look like a WW2 love story. Something along the lines of David Lean's "Brief Encounter" or "Casablanca".
One also has to wonder about this film's title. What exactly does it mean, if anything? Could it refer to the idea when one is in lust with something they must proceed with caution as to not let their feelings of lust get the better of them and allow them to lose all sense of judgement? Or could the title suggest being cautious is what provokes feelings of lust? Think along the lines of, we want what we cannot have. When you tell someone they can't have something, they are now tempted by it. Maybe it is a combination of the two. In some ways "Lust, Caution" is about both of these ideas.
Further showing it's stupidity the members of the Academy Awards have decided not to nominate this film for any awards. What a shame. However the film has earned it's share of praise. A Golden Globe nomination for best foreign language film and it was the winner of the "Golden Lion" award at the Venice Film Festival. Hopefully the film will not be ignored by viewers.
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