Lust, Caution (色，戒)
Much has been made of the NC-17 sex scenes for the latest erotic espionage thriller Lust, Caution (色，戒) by Ang Lee. So much so that viewers who have watched the movie actually left the cinema wondering whether the sex scenes were actually for real.
Based loosely on the short story of the same name published in 1979 by Chinese author Eileen Chang - an actual event that took place in 1939-1940, the actors definitely deserve the highest praise for their bold performance.
Displaying partial frontal pubic hair and executing porn-like pelvic thrusts, Cannes Film Festival Best Actor (2000) Tony Leung Chiu Wai (梁朝偉), goes places he's never been before as the role of the Japanese collaborator Mr Yee in Lust, Caution. Equally remarkable in her role as the undercover assassinate Wong Chia-Chi, newcomer Tang Wei (湯唯) literally bares all and gives a performance that will be talked about for years.
In fact, the scenes were so intense that it is no wonder that it has stirred up much controversies sicne its release. Honestly speaking, it was the first time I've seen so much flesh (& hair) bared in a Mandarin movie!
Indeed, Ang Lee is a true master in his field. With Brokeback Mountain, and now Lust, Caution, Ang Lee is one Chinese director who is definitely not afraid to overstep the boundary in film-making. Through his recent works, we have come to expect that his future work will most certainly be just as titillating as the two. I can only wait with abated breath for his next work...
***
