Lust, Caution

Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, based on a short story by Eileen Chang, takes place during the Japanese occupation of China during World War II. It follows Mak, a young resistance fighter who attempts to seduce a Japanese collaborator to make him vulnerable to murder. She falls in love with him, however, and the two embark on a series of sometimes violent sexual encounters.

Fast Facts

1. Directed by: Ang Lee
2. Story by: Eileen Chang
3. Screenplay by: James Schamus
4. Starring: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen
5. Release Date: September 28, 2007
6. Running Time: 159 minutes
7. Rated: NC-17
8. Ang Lee refuse to make changes to accommodate an R rating
9. AKA: Se, jie

Critical Reception

Ang Lee won his second Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Lust, Caution as well as seven awards at the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan. The film received a 69% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics praising its visual flair and imagery. It appeared on both Jack Mathews' and Kenneth Turan's 2007 top ten lists.

Controversy

In March 2008, a Chinese government directive specified that Lust, Caution be exempted from Chinese film awards, and effectively banned actress Tang Wei from public mention.

In 2007, a Chinese woman living in Los Angeles claimed that the film is based upon events in her family's life and that it defames her older sister. Ang Lee has denied these charges and maintains that the story is an original from Chang, based on her own life.

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