Lust, Caution Film Review
April 8th 2008 13:04
Category: No Category
History fans will love the painstaking attention to detail evident in the simulation of 1938 and 1942 China. Rodrigo Prieto's lighting perfectly illuminates the wallpaper, dresses and dark wooden wardrobes of the period, creating an enticing set which adds much character to the story. I have never seen a film set in Japanese-occupied China, although I have read a bit about the period (and am alerted to the animosity many modern Chinese experience against their more economically developed neighbours), so the joys of discovering the unique look of the film were significant. Given the materialism that prevails in China, it's refreshing to see the lives of the artistically oriented explored, and here our heroes are theatre students, a sub-section which is marginalised as China's dramatic tradition is much more subtle than that of other Western nations.
We are introduced to 'Mak Tai Tai' with a Mah Jongg game that looks cordial on the surface but the subtle glances and pointed remarks between the four female players reveal rivalry and underlying tensions lurking underneath. The camera glides from one face to another smoothly and fluidly, and the editing is punctuated by the click of the Mah Jongg tiles, from which the slick cuts take their example. This Shanghai of 1942 is not to linger for too long, though, as it is interrupted by a flashback emanating from the lead character, who concludes her game and jitterily makes her way past the bustling streets of the city to meet someone in a Western-style cafe.
It is here that Ang Lee's previously unknown but fabulously talented Tang Wei reminisces on her past, remembering how she got to this point. Her real name is Wong Chia Chi, and four years ago she was a student in Hong Kong who becomes persuaded to audition for a patriotic play and finds herself revelling in the experience of portraying a different character. She lands the lead role despite never having appeared on stage before, and when Kuang, the charismatic leader of the band of six actors, comes across the opportunity to infiltrate the life of a high-ranking Chinese official who works for the Japanese (Mr. Yee) everyone turns to her to play an affluent young woman who attempts to win his affections, even though she mostly joins the assassination attempt because the rest of the group commits to it. We see that Wong is longing to be moved, as she weeps passionately in the darkness of a movie theatre at a Western love story. It appears that her father, who has taken her brother to England with him, doesn't care all that much about her future, and we later learn her mother's attitude towards her is quite detached as she meets her financial needs and little else.
Tang is both subtle and riveting as her transformation from Wong Chia Chi into Mak Tai Tai asks the audience how such an inexperienced, shy girl could become so smoulderingly seductive and self-possessed. Yee (played by Tony Leung) takes notice of the simmering sensuality of his wife's new companion, and begins to spend time with her.
But before the group can figure out how to penetrate Yee's formidable security networks, he and his wife suddenly depart for Shanghai. They despondently pack up their belongings in their rented house, but are confronted by Yee's driver who has cottoned onto them. The driver brings a gun and attempts to blackmail them, but the students kill him before he has the chance to hurt any of them. Wong is so distressed by these events that she flees the scene, and her comrades.
Miraculously, they manage to locate her four years later in Shanghai, where she is still studying. They now have professional backing, but Yee has attained even higher status, and two previous attempts by females to find a weakness in his security have resulted in their deaths. Wong resumes her role as Mak at the urging of Kuang and his superior, who hands her a cyanide pill to sew onto her clothing - just in case. It appears that all the hard work is already done as Yee immediately seeks out her company. She succumbs to his sexual dominance, and their first experience is bed is brutally sadistic as he forces himself onto her into what would be rape. This frenzied lovemaking eventually turns passionate and emotion-filled, and Wong discovers that she has some tender feelings for this man, who, as a murderous, fearful megalomaniac, seems bereft of any redeeming qualities (unless you count regarding himself as a 'whore' for the Japanese), but shows her more attention than anyone else in her short life has. The sex scenes are quite steamy and have even evoked the question of whether the sex was unsimulated (Ang Lee declined to respond to this).
I won't spoil the ending, but it utterly ruined the whole film for me. There was so much potential in the build-up, with elements as different as costuming and music, acting and cinematography working together to create a compelling plot, and yet I found that the final twist, based upon a barely-there plotline so slight as to be devastatingly unrealistic. I was angered by Wong's transformation from a brave female to a irrational femme fatale, a representation of weakness that I hadn't imagined plausible, and didn't want to believe possible. I'd say that the ending forced me to focus on the things I didn't want to focus on in the movie, subverting my earlier investment in its outcome. The film continues to be most beautifully shot despite the deficiencies brought out by its conclusion.
According to Ang Lee, Chinese audiences found the film moved too fast, while Western ones complained that it was too slow. It's a lengthy film, coming in at 2 1/2 hours, so don't do what I did and drink a lot of water while you're watching. The subtleties of the performances will appeal to the Asian audiences, while there is enough Hollywood-style drama to keep Westerners interested. It's interesting to note that Wong is a fan of going to the movies, and glances at several posters for Western films, including 'Suspicion' by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is based on a lesser known short story of Eileen Chang's.
Note: In China, the sex scenes were mostly edited out, withholding vital information from the audience. The government has also reportedly 'blacklisted' Tang Wei on account of the explicit material, which I believe is unjust and unacceptable.
Tang Wei as Wong Chia Chi
We are introduced to 'Mak Tai Tai' with a Mah Jongg game that looks cordial on the surface but the subtle glances and pointed remarks between the four female players reveal rivalry and underlying tensions lurking underneath. The camera glides from one face to another smoothly and fluidly, and the editing is punctuated by the click of the Mah Jongg tiles, from which the slick cuts take their example. This Shanghai of 1942 is not to linger for too long, though, as it is interrupted by a flashback emanating from the lead character, who concludes her game and jitterily makes her way past the bustling streets of the city to meet someone in a Western-style cafe.
It is here that Ang Lee's previously unknown but fabulously talented Tang Wei reminisces on her past, remembering how she got to this point. Her real name is Wong Chia Chi, and four years ago she was a student in Hong Kong who becomes persuaded to audition for a patriotic play and finds herself revelling in the experience of portraying a different character. She lands the lead role despite never having appeared on stage before, and when Kuang, the charismatic leader of the band of six actors, comes across the opportunity to infiltrate the life of a high-ranking Chinese official who works for the Japanese (Mr. Yee) everyone turns to her to play an affluent young woman who attempts to win his affections, even though she mostly joins the assassination attempt because the rest of the group commits to it. We see that Wong is longing to be moved, as she weeps passionately in the darkness of a movie theatre at a Western love story. It appears that her father, who has taken her brother to England with him, doesn't care all that much about her future, and we later learn her mother's attitude towards her is quite detached as she meets her financial needs and little else.
Tang is both subtle and riveting as her transformation from Wong Chia Chi into Mak Tai Tai asks the audience how such an inexperienced, shy girl could become so smoulderingly seductive and self-possessed. Yee (played by Tony Leung) takes notice of the simmering sensuality of his wife's new companion, and begins to spend time with her.
But before the group can figure out how to penetrate Yee's formidable security networks, he and his wife suddenly depart for Shanghai. They despondently pack up their belongings in their rented house, but are confronted by Yee's driver who has cottoned onto them. The driver brings a gun and attempts to blackmail them, but the students kill him before he has the chance to hurt any of them. Wong is so distressed by these events that she flees the scene, and her comrades.
The three main characters, Kuang, Wong and Yee
Miraculously, they manage to locate her four years later in Shanghai, where she is still studying. They now have professional backing, but Yee has attained even higher status, and two previous attempts by females to find a weakness in his security have resulted in their deaths. Wong resumes her role as Mak at the urging of Kuang and his superior, who hands her a cyanide pill to sew onto her clothing - just in case. It appears that all the hard work is already done as Yee immediately seeks out her company. She succumbs to his sexual dominance, and their first experience is bed is brutally sadistic as he forces himself onto her into what would be rape. This frenzied lovemaking eventually turns passionate and emotion-filled, and Wong discovers that she has some tender feelings for this man, who, as a murderous, fearful megalomaniac, seems bereft of any redeeming qualities (unless you count regarding himself as a 'whore' for the Japanese), but shows her more attention than anyone else in her short life has. The sex scenes are quite steamy and have even evoked the question of whether the sex was unsimulated (Ang Lee declined to respond to this).
Who's really in control?
I won't spoil the ending, but it utterly ruined the whole film for me. There was so much potential in the build-up, with elements as different as costuming and music, acting and cinematography working together to create a compelling plot, and yet I found that the final twist, based upon a barely-there plotline so slight as to be devastatingly unrealistic. I was angered by Wong's transformation from a brave female to a irrational femme fatale, a representation of weakness that I hadn't imagined plausible, and didn't want to believe possible. I'd say that the ending forced me to focus on the things I didn't want to focus on in the movie, subverting my earlier investment in its outcome. The film continues to be most beautifully shot despite the deficiencies brought out by its conclusion.
According to Ang Lee, Chinese audiences found the film moved too fast, while Western ones complained that it was too slow. It's a lengthy film, coming in at 2 1/2 hours, so don't do what I did and drink a lot of water while you're watching. The subtleties of the performances will appeal to the Asian audiences, while there is enough Hollywood-style drama to keep Westerners interested. It's interesting to note that Wong is a fan of going to the movies, and glances at several posters for Western films, including 'Suspicion' by Alfred Hitchcock. The film is based on a lesser known short story of Eileen Chang's.
Note: In China, the sex scenes were mostly edited out, withholding vital information from the audience. The government has also reportedly 'blacklisted' Tang Wei on account of the explicit material, which I believe is unjust and unacceptable.
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Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
Jayne
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I do think it's worth a look for the acting and mise-en-scene alone. I have seen a lot of espionage thrillers, but never one set in this time or place, and it has stayed with me over the last few days. It's still playing (in Sydney, at least), so go for it!
Thank you both for stopping by and commenting, and selectively enjoy the ride of Lust, Caution.