Lust, Caution is a bird of a different feather because it attempts both classic and ultra-modern techniques. The story is the classical element, reminiscent of a time when directors took time and care to build characters. But the rating, NC-17, and the acceptance of it is certainly a nod to modernity. And of course the sex scenes are definitely not a nod to Bogie and Bacall.
Let’s delve right in to that classical story. It’s Shanghai in the 1940’s, and China has come under Japanese rule. Tony Leung plays a Chinese official who is collaborating with the Japanese to help them run an occupying government. On the other side are young Chinese students who are fiercely opposed to the occupation. Actress Wei Tang plays one of the students, first as a youngish looking girl, and then as a recruited agent to help a plot hatched to assassinate Leung.
The film hinges on the dualism of Wei Tang. She’s asked to become involved (in every sense of the word) to gain Leung’s confidence. This dramatic tension is the core of the movie as well. It’s a relatively simple setup, though, to director Ang Lee’s credit, he builds the tension nicely throughout. The group of students Wei is involved with are also presented well. First as naive, and later as seasoned in their efforts, they present a realistic portrait of what a rebel contingent might have looked like during that era.
Lust, Caution also excels at staying on track, despite a nearly 160 minute running time. The story stays on point and doesn’t have much that feels pointless, and the last 100 minutes or so are tense. This is also a great movie in terms of complexity. Wei Tang is clearly meant as our champion, yet she also has her failings and comes off as human and authentic. Being placed in her position, feeling as though you are serving your country – while also slowly eroding away your own confidence and sexuality is a great dynamic for a story, and to its credit, Lust, Caution mines every drop of that drama.
What doesn’t really work, oddly enough, are the sex scenes. I think I understand what Lee was getting at, a juxtaposition of sex and violence, of love and mistrust, but it feels a little too obvious. As opposed to ten full minutes of sex scenes he probably could have made due with five. I’m not one to ding a movie for sensuality, quite the opposite actually, but I am less impressed when the interactions don’t mean much. And in a couple of cases, after a few shots, the sex itself became more of a distraction than an effective tool.
This conflict of interests within the film’s own logic makes this difficult to recommend to any particular group. To those who love the classics it seems like a no-brainer, right up until the gratuitous sex is thrown in. To fans of gratuitous sex, I mean, c’mon, this is an art film, you’re not telling a drinking buddy “man, you gotta see this” because it’s not that sort of film at all. While I fault the film for having too much sex, because it became boring, I don’t fault the way it was filmed or the skill of the actors. There are several tender moments, and a handful of very violent ones too, we just would have been a little better off minus a smidge of the “lust.”
That said, the ideal audience for this is a hybrid sort of viewer. Someone who appreciates a robust and methodical way of storytelling but isn’t going to be offended by a little skin will do fine. Lust, Caution isn’t a masterpiece, but it is good if you’ve got the patience.
