Lust, Caution: Might Arrest You or Sedate You review

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Rituparna Chatterjee remains intrigued by Lust, Caution, days after leaving the theatre, and looks like the intrigue is here to stay

There are films you love and there are films you hate. In between comes a huge list of films that you like, dislike, maybe like, maybe dislike. But rarely do you come across a film that erratically floats to all corners of your list, quite like the fickle Bombay Stock Exchange’s mood swings. Se, Jie (Lust, Caution) is that rare film. It has been nominated for about 23 awards internationally, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film as well as a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. Yet, it has been more recognized for its nasty erotica that has mostly confined the film to festival crowds, film clubs and arty circles.

Despite that, the fact remains that Lust, Caution is a cinematic tour de force, something that viewers can take for granted from Ang Lee. In 2006, the Taiwanese director bagged an Oscar for Best Achievement in Directing for Brokeback Mountain. And in 2001, his Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon swept the Academy Awards bagging four Oscars for excellence in art direction, cinematography, original score, and winning the coveted Best Foreign Language Film award. If the awards don’t speak much about Lee’s brilliance, then take his popular hit comedy Eat Drink Man Woman, which is both funny and humane at the same time.

Lee’s Lust, Caution is arguably his most exquisite film to date. The film is full of unending layers and juxtapositions. Innocence meets ferocity, beauty meets beastly barbarism and love meets deceit which in turn meets love. Predator hunts prey, they swap roles, and love develops out of their savagery. Yes, it is complex with layers unfolding into layers. That coupled with ace cinematography (Rodrigo Prieto of Brokeback Mountain fame) and the intense performances are what make the film so arresting. It is easy to dismiss the film’s virtues by focusing on its kinky sex scenes. Lust, Caution’s intense erotica — complete with unshaven armpits and acrobatic positions that blur the lines between acting and pornography — is quite disturbing (unless you happen to be a sadist). Worse, the scenes go on and on forcing you to feel the pain of the characters. The film itself drones on for about 158 minutes! It could easily contest for the longest cinematic adaptation of a short story, and probably emerge a winner. One thing is certain — the film will either sedate you or it will caste a spell on you that you won’t want to break.

Cut to the film. The setting is Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II. The protagonist, Wong Chia Chi (Wei Tang), is a shy and vulnerable student and theatre actress. The leader of her theatrical troupe Kuang Yu Min (pop star Wang Leehom) recruits her to act as a real-life spy and seduce the brutal Mr. Yee (Tony Leung). Mr. Yee is a Japanese associate whom Chinese jingoists want dead. Overnight, the plain Jane activist turns into Mrs. Mak, a glamorous femme fatale. She joins Mrs. Yee’s (Joan Chen) regular mahjong group, to spy on Mr. Yee as well as to allure him. Political trysts and betrayal become a way of life in Lust Caution. The first attempt is wasted only to be revived once again, four years later. Finally, Mr. Yee’s and Mrs. Mak’s intriguing seduction game spirals to a series of climaxes, the final one being the moment when Wong Chia Chi’s mission is about to be accomplished.

Tang is phenomenal! It is tough to believe that this is her first film. She plays both, the naive Wong Chia Chi and the cunning yet vulnerable femme fatale Mrs. Mak, to perfection. Leung reaches exceptional depths as an actor in Lust, Caution. It is hard to tell that he is the same guy from Wong Kar Wai films (Chungking Express, In The Mood For Love, 2046 and Happy Together). The only common thread would be Leung expressing way more through his eyes than through his lines. No wonder he plays a quiet and reclusive guy in almost every other film.

While Chinese and Taiwanese directors like Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Raise The Red Lantern) or Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine, Temptress Moon) remain infatuated with their ancient history, Lee seldom repeats himself, leave alone repeat themes. Each of his films is distinct from the other, be it in terms of premise or plot or treatment. And that’s what makes every Lee film a gift you can’t wait to unwrap. Lust, Caution takes this concept one step further. Every time you see the film, you discover something new in it. And then it floats to another new corner of your list. As for me, I’m still figuring out whether I love Lust, Caution or hate it.

[rating:3]