Lust, Caution (Se, Jie) Review
By David Kempler
Lust, Caution, Lust, Intrigue, Lust, Lust
In 2005, Ang Lee presented us with man loving man in his controversial, but critically acclaimed, "Brokeback Mountain". Flash forward to 2007 and Lee brings us an examination of wartime set in Shanghai, China during the early 1940's. Japanese atrocities of that era in China have been well documented in non-fiction films and in history textbooks, although not so very much in American schools.
"Lust, Caution" isn't as much a typical war film as it is an examination of a microcosm of a setting where war surrounds the characters, yet for the most part, keeps them uninvolved with the actual conflict. In only a very few scenes does the actual brutality of war intrude. Lee chooses to present us with one small group's experience and to be more precise, the view of all is filtered through the eyes of a young Chinese girl, Wong Chia Chi (Wei Tang), who grows up amidst war.
The film begins in Hong Kong but spends most of its time in Shanghai, China. Wong Chia Chi is an ordinary student who, through a friend becomes part of a local acting troupe. The plays they present are of a political nature and the group's leader, Kuang Yu Min (Lee-Hom Wang) is its impetus. He feels that in order to truly make a difference they must help overthrow the Japanese occupying forces and the group agrees to participate, some more willingly than others.
Their target is Mr. Yee (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), a mysteriously evil fellow. We don't really see exactly all of his nefarious activities but we see enough to know he is worth trying to eliminate. It falls upon Wong Chia Chi to win him over and gain his confidence, using what women usually use in stories like these. Eventually Mr. Wee is taken in by her and the sex that is displayed on-screen between them is so realistic looking that it is hard to believe it is a simulation. The heat seems genuine. Even though she despises him, she at least in part seems to enjoy the task at hand. How much she truly feels for him is unclear and it's probably better that way.
At the end of "Lust, Caution" things are cleanly resolved. The only problem I had was the length of the film, which runs close to three hours. Thankfully, it is all gorgeous to look at, which softens the blow of having to endure a film that could certainly have benefitted from at least a few cuts here or there. All in all, a very good film from a very good director and certainly worth a look. Just don't see it when you are already tired or you might doze through some scenes and there are some very hot scenes that you do not want to doze through.
