LUST, CAUTION

China, 2007, 154 minutes, Colour.
Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wan Lee- Hom.
Directed by Ang Lee.

Lust, Caution, is a fine film from Ang Lee. Ang Lee has never repeated himself in his genres; comedy in the wedding banquet, English sensibilities and Jane Austen in Sense and Sensibility, American morals in The Ice Storm, the civil war in Ride with the Devil, Chinese martial arts with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, comic strips with The Hulk, sexual issues in Brokeback Mountain.

He returns to China with Shanghai and Hong Kong settings. The film is set during the Japanese occupation of Japan, beginning in 1942, arousing audience curiosity about the central character, a young woman (a powerful performance from Tang Wei) who plays Mah Jong with a group of matrons, wives of men who have collaborated with Japanese. It then goes back to 1938 and builds up a story about the resistance to Japanese occupation. It focuses on a group of young students who form a drama company. The young woman is chosen to become the mistress of their main target. When he moves from Hong Kong back to Shanghai, their plans collapse - and are reinstituted.

The film design is excellent, one feels that one is in Shanghai and in 1942. There is a meticulous attention to detail from the smallest interior to the trams in the streets.

The film is interesting in terms of audience knowledge of Japanese occupation, of the Chinese resistance during the war, of the Japanese occupation.
The focus of the title is gradual. However, it is only after 90 minutes that the film moves to 'full on' in explicit lust sequences, with Ang Lee portraying the raw passion of the two people concerned, sadomasochistic touches. Some audiences will find these sequences too explicit. However, this also helps us to understand the psychology of what happens when the assassination attempt occurs.

The performances are excellent. The film shows Lee's strengths in storytelling, eliciting performances, creating a world and a mood as well as raising moral issues. Winner of the Golden Lion in Venice, 2007.

1.The work of Ang Lee, in China, in Taiwan? His not repeating himself? The variety of films? This film for Asian audiences, world audiences?

2.Audience knowledge of Shanghai in 1942: the Japanese occupation, Shanghai as a city, cosmopolitan? Collaborators with the Japanese? Lifestyles and privations? The Resistance? The going back to 1938: the explanation of the Japanese war, China’s soldiers, defeat, going to Hong Kong, the refugees?

3.The structure of the film: 1942, reverting to 1938 for a dramatic explanation of the crisis in 42, moving forward again, resuming the 1942 episode?

4.The locations, the re-creation of Hong Kong and Shanghai, the details, costumes, décor? The musical score?

5.The title, the focus on lust – and the explicit lust only after an hour and a half? The lust of power? The explicit scenes? Their effect? The application of the title caution to Mr Lee, to Wong?

6.Life in Hong Kong in 1938, the refugees, the students, their studies? The recruitment for Japanese collaborators? The Resistance? The student group, their good friendship, the theatre group, the plan to infiltrate, buying the house, the plan, the change and the failure? Their dispersing?

7.The initial focus on the women in Shanghai, playing Mah Jong, gossiping? Rich women, their husbands, trade, ministers in the government? The effect of the war? The collaborators, the rich? People suffering privation? The introduction to Mrs Mak? The introduction to Mr Yee? The appointment with Mrs Mak, the coffee, the restaurant, her phone call? The code? Kuang and the group listening?

8.The migration of the displaced Chinese, going to Hong Kong, Wong and her role, as a student, her father going to England, the hope that she would be called there? Her friend, sharing the apartment, meeting the group, the performance, the dramatic impact of the play, the patriotism, the rousing response, the audience singing? Giving her confidence? Kuang, his support, his love for her – but unspoken?

9.Kuang, his place in the group, leadership? The other personalities? The woman? The men? Their motivations, the man with the money? The buying of the house as a cover? The plan? Leading a society life? Clothes? Wong and her being transformed into Mrs Mak? Mak as large, his agreement to do the role? Moving into society, meeting with Mr and Mrs Lee? Helping them with their tourism in Hong Kong? The issue of sexuality, Wong’s preparation, initiation? Meeting Lee? The delicacy of her response?

10.Lee, as a personality, in Hong Kong, his recruiting, his staff? His role for the Japanese? Hard? His wife, Wong’s friendship, her explanations of herself and her husband? Touring, the meals, Shanghai cuisine, becoming friends? Access to the house? The effect on Lee, the discreet approaches? The change of plan and leaving for Shanghai?

11.Shanghai three years later, Wong disappearing from the group, her work in Shanghai, the hard life? Kuang’s reappearance, the group? Being taken to the head of the Resistance, the discussions, the interviews, the suicide pill? Her becoming Mrs Mak again, joining the group, their welcoming her? Especially Mrs Lee, her friendship, shopping, discussions?

12.Lee in Shanghai, his authority, his work? His approaching Wong? The meetings? The sexual encounters, the lust, the explicitness? The effect on Lee? The effect on Wong?

13.Lee and his sadistic approach, masochistic? Wong being repelled? Yet his manner, buying the elaborate ring, the beauty of the ring? The effect on Wong?

14.The set-up, her making the phone call, the shop, the Indian jeweller? The Resistance and their plan? Following Wong? Wong and her warning Lee, his fleeing? The round-up of the Resistance?

15.Wong, the effect on her warning Lee, her arrest, the interrogation? The discussions with Lee, his not wanting to interrogate her, his past interrogations and torture? The information about her background? The fact that he had been deceived? His giving her himself, the room in the house, his complete devotion? His relationship with his wife – and the future?

16.The execution scene, the Resistance, Wong’s death?

17.A story of a particular historical time, from a Chinese perspective, the Japanese perspective? The experience of World War Two? As a setting for a romance, a love story, a lust and power story?