Lust, Caution (2007)
Ang Lee's searing wartime thriller follows a young operative whose mission to seduce a Japanese collaborator in occupied Shanghai unravels into something far more dangerous.
Lust, Caution - Movie Information
- Original Title: 色‧戒
- Release Year: 2007
- Directed by: Ang Lee
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): NC-17
- Runtime: 2h 38m
- Original Language: Chinese
- Spoken Languages: Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 24, 2007 (Taiwan), September 27, 2007 (United States - NC-17), January 4, 2008 (United Kingdom - 18), October 18, 2007 (Germany - 16), January 16, 2008 (France - 12), January 17, 2008 (Australia - R 18+), May 15, 2009 (Brazil - 18), January 4, 2008 (Italy - VM14), November 8, 2007 (South Korea - 18), November 1, 2007 (China)
- Alternative Titles: 색, 계 (KR), Lust, Caution (US), Lussuria (IT), 色｜戒 (TW), طمع، احتیاط (IR), 色戒 (CN), Lujuria y traición (MX)
- Production Companies: River Road Entertainment, Haishang Films, Focus Features, Sil-Metropole Organisation, Shanghai Film Group, Edko Films
- Production Countries: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States of America
Lust, Caution - Plot
During World War II, a secret agent must seduce and assassinate an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai.
Lust, Caution - Trailer
Watch the official trailer for this acclaimed wartime thriller from director Ang Lee:
To kill the enemy, she would have to capture his heart... and break her own.
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Lust, Caution - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Ang Lee
Main Cast
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai
- Tang Wei
- Joan Chen
- Leehom Wang
- Tou Tsung-Hua
- Jacqueline Zhu Zhi-Ying
- Ven Kao
- Lawrence Ko Yu-Luen
- Johnson Yuen Tak-Cheung
- Chin Ka-Lok
Writers
- Wang Huiling
- James Schamus
Producers
- Ang Lee
- Bill Kong Chi-Keung
- David Lee
Lust, Caution - FAQs
What is the NC-17 rating controversy surrounding Lust, Caution?
Lust, Caution received an NC-17 rating in the United States due to its explicit sexual content between Tony Leung and Tang Wei. Director Ang Lee chose to release the film uncut rather than edit it for an R rating, making it one of the few major studio-distributed NC-17 films of its era.
Is Lust, Caution based on a true story?
Lust, Caution is based on a 1979 novella by celebrated Chinese author Eileen Chang. Chang's story was itself loosely inspired by a real wartime incident involving Zheng Pingru, a young Chinese woman who attempted to assassinate a collaborator during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in the 1940s.
Where can you stream or watch Lust, Caution?
Lust, Caution is available to rent or buy digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary by region. Check JustWatch for the most current streaming and rental options in your area.
Who are the lead actors in Lust, Caution?
The film stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai as the enigmatic collaborator Mr. Yee and Tang Wei in her breakthrough role as Wong Chia Chi, the young operative tasked with seducing him. Joan Chen and Leehom Wang appear in strong supporting roles.
Did Lust, Caution win any major awards?
Lust, Caution won the Golden Lion at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, one of cinema's most prestigious prizes. Ang Lee also received the Golden Lion for Best Director. The film earned additional nominations at the Golden Globes and various critics' circles worldwide.
What language is Lust, Caution primarily in?
The film is primarily in Mandarin Chinese, with additional dialogue in Cantonese, Japanese, and English. The multilingual texture reflects the complex colonial and wartime social landscape of 1940s Shanghai and Hong Kong under Japanese occupation.
How long is Lust, Caution?
Lust, Caution has a runtime of 2 hours and 38 minutes (158 minutes). The film's extended length allows Ang Lee to build slow-burning tension and develop the psychological complexity of the central relationship between the spy and her target.
How was Lust, Caution received by critics?
Critics widely praised Lust, Caution as a masterful, emotionally devastating espionage drama. Tony Leung and Tang Wei received particular acclaim for their performances. The film holds strong reviews for its visual elegance, moral ambiguity, and Ang Lee's assured direction of a deeply intimate wartime story.
More About Lust, Caution
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