Feb 2nd
Lust, Caution** (18)

Hollywood Film Theatre, Ipswich

China/US/Taiwan/Hong Kong 2007. Focus Features/Hai-Sheng Film. 157m(uncensored version).

In Japanese-occupied Shanghai of World War II, a Chinese patriot agrees to become the mistress of a collaborator in order to assassinate him, but her feelings are compromised when she starts to fall in love with him.
Another dose of the ever-rewarding Ang Lee; like Brokeback Mountain, a tragic love story where the characters once again struggle with duty over their own natural desires (a common Ang Lee theme), reminiscent of thrillers such as Notorious, but much more complex, and the notable sex scenes actually add to the empathy between the two main characters. Quite long, with a lengthy main flashback, and the political background isn't quite as well sketched as the central relationship, but full of quality.

Written by: Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus, from the story by Eileen Chang.
Producers: William Kong, Ang Lee.
Director: Ang Lee.
Starring: Wei Tang, Tony Leung, Lee-Hom Wang, Joan Chen, Chung Hua Tou, Anupam Kher.
Photography: Rodrigo Prieto.
Music: Alexandre Desplat.
Editing: Tim Squyres.
Production Design: Lai Pan.