Love, Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution
****

Director Ang Lee’s latest effort Lust, Caution is truly a visually seductive film. The film takes place during WWII when the Japanese occupied Shanghai. Tensions were high among the Chinese, who at that time were a divided nation. Those Chinese who were well off were recruited by the Japanese and placed in positions of power. Others were subjugated to Japanese rule. Lust, Caution introduces us to a group of drama students that join an underground network of Chinese nationalist spies who seek to eliminate the Chinese traitors who work for the Japanese. Among these spies is a young actress who uses her talent and her beauty to capture her audience. She is chosen by the other members of the resistance movement to infiltrate the residence of Mr. Yee, portrayed by Tony Leung. After being introduced to Yee and his wife, as the wife of a prominent Chinese exporter she prepares for the most demanding role of her young life: the mistress of the distrustful and very dangerous Mr. Yee. Without a doubt Lee exhibits all of the skills that earned him his Best director Oscar. His fluid camera movements accentuate the superb performances turned in by the entire cast especially by Leung and the newcomer Wei Tang, whose performance as his mistress, in this film is so captivating that it seems as though she were a much more seasoned performer. This is probably why she was chosen from among 10,000 other actors for the role. Excellant performances, passionate direction, and a story that truly seduces are just some of the reasons why this film should be considered one of the best foreign films of 2007.