Lust, Caution

2h 36m 2007

Brief Synopsis

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Shanghai, 1942. The World War II Japanese occupation of this Chinese city continues in force. Mrs. Mak, a woman of sophistication and means, waits for a call at a cafe, as she remembers how her story began several years earlier, in 1938 China: she is not in fact Mrs. Mak, but shy Wong Chia Chi. With WWII underway, Wong has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England. As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yu Min Kuang who has started a drama society to shore up patriotism. As the theater troupe's new leading lady, Wong realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences--and Kuang. He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee. And each student has a part to play; Wong will be Mrs. Mak, who will gain Yee's trust by befriending his wife and then draw the man into an affair. Wong transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted--until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Shanghai, 1941. With no end in sight for the occupation, Wong--having emigrated from Hong Kong--goes through the motions of her existence. Much to her surprise, Kuang re-enters her life. Now part of the organized resistance, he enlists her to again become Mrs. Mak in a revival of the plot to kill Yee, who as head of the collaborationist secret service has become even more a key part of the puppet government. Reprising her role, Wong is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, as she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit.

Cast & Crew

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Ang Lee

Director

Tang Wei

Tony Leung

Leehom Wang

Joan Chen

Chu Jr Ying

Film Details

Also Known As
Lust, Caution, Se, Jie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Period
Spy
Thriller
Release Date
2007
Production Company
Acordia; C5, Inc.; Cine-Byte Imaging Inc; Cinefinance; Discovery Film; Entertainment Partners; Focus Features; Focus Features; Focus Features; Haishang Films; Mr. X Inc.; Pivotal Post; Post Factoryny; River Road Entertainment; Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham LLP; Shanghai Film Corporation; Sil-Metropole Organization; Sound One; Studio Davout; The Post Factory; Tom Apler; Yu+Co
Distribution Company
A-Film Distribution; Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm; Ascot Elite Entertainment Group; Aurora Distribution; Bazuca; Bim Distribuzione; Blue Sky (Czech Republic); Budapest Film; CinTart; Cj Entertainment; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Distribution Company; Edko Films; Europa Filmes; Focus Features; Gussi Films; Monolith Films Sp. Z O.O.; Norsk Filmdistribusjon; Paradise; Paradise Film Distribution Company (Russia); Paramount Pictures International (PPI); Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland Oy; Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige Ab (Sweden); Sandrew Metronome Filmdistribution As; Saturn Entertainment; Sena; Ster-Kinekor; Tobis Film; Ugc International; United International Pictures; Universal Pictures Home Entertainment; Universal Pictures International; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International; ZON Lusomundo (now part of NOS Audiovisuals)
Location
China

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 36m

Synopsis

Shanghai, 1942. The World War II Japanese occupation of this Chinese city continues in force. Mrs. Mak, a woman of sophistication and means, waits for a call at a cafe, as she remembers how her story began several years earlier, in 1938 China: she is not in fact Mrs. Mak, but shy Wong Chia Chi. With WWII underway, Wong has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England. As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yu Min Kuang who has started a drama society to shore up patriotism. As the theater troupe's new leading lady, Wong realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences--and Kuang. He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee. And each student has a part to play; Wong will be Mrs. Mak, who will gain Yee's trust by befriending his wife and then draw the man into an affair. Wong transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted--until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Shanghai, 1941. With no end in sight for the occupation, Wong--having emigrated from Hong Kong--goes through the motions of her existence. Much to her surprise, Kuang re-enters her life. Now part of the organized resistance, he enlists her to again become Mrs. Mak in a revival of the plot to kill Yee, who as head of the collaborationist secret service has become even more a key part of the puppet government. Reprising her role, Wong is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, as she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit.

Director

Ang Lee

Director

Cast

Tang Wei

Tony Leung

Leehom Wang

Joan Chen

Chu Jr Ying

Tou Chung Hua

Kao Ying Hsuan

Ko Yu Lien

Johnson Yuen

Su Yan

He Sai Fei

Song Ru Hui

Fan Kuang Yao

Lisa Yen Lu

Anupam Kher

Liu Jie

Yu Ya

Wang Lin

Hua Dong

Wang Kan

Song Jian Hua

Takesita Akiko

Fujki Hayato

Seto Masumi

Koyama Noriko

Shayam Pathak

Gu Zhang-ping

Gao Bo-wen

Yu Qun

Lau Yat Tung

Lai Yuk Ching

Yuji Kojima

Mizogomi Yoko

Minamikata Fumika

Anys Fatnassi

Tang Ya Jun

Shi Hong

Deng Wei

Li Dou

Alain Planes

Performer

Dominique Lemonnier

Performer

Vincent Segal

Performer

Alexandre Desplat

Performer

Tito Castro

Performer

Nicolas Danielson

Performer

Oscar Feldman

Performer

Kalin Ivanov

Performer

Tom Kirchmer

Performer

Mikhail Kuchuk

Performer

Maurizio Najt

Performer

Crew

Shiga Akira

Makeup Artist

Tom Apler

Production Insurance

Mandy Au

Digital Effects Artist

Bert Aw

Location Manager

Aiso Ayami

Wardrobe

Tim Baiden

Project Manager

Sarah Barber

Visual Effects

Aaron Barclay

Digital Effects Artist

John Bardswich

Project Manager

Mike Becki

Digital Effects Artist

Jean-pascal Beintus

Original Music

Osvaldo Bellinghieri

Song Performer

Osvaldo Bellinghieri

Song

Robert Russell Bennett

Original Score

Barb Benoit

Digital Effects Artist

Dennis Berardi

Visual Effects Producer

Christine Bergren

Music

Augusto Berto

Song

Lan Bin

Assistant Art Director

Shen Bin

Office Production Assistant

Kristy Blackwell

Digital Effects Artist

Leslie Bloome

Foley

Terence Boey

Props Assistant

Christophe Briquet

Music Contractor

Nacio Herb Brown

Song

Gerry Robert Byrne

Post-Production Supervisor

Stephen Byrne

Visual Effects Producer

Benjamin Caillaud

Music Engineer

Fiona Campbell-westgate

Visual Effects Producer

Hoagy Carmichael

Song

Dan Carnegie

Animator

Vincent Chai

Grip

Edmond Chan

Camera Focus Puller

Hubert Chan

Animator

Jason Chan

Digital Effects Artist

Chu Hung Chang

Dialogue Coach

Eileen Chang

Source Material

Rebecca Chang

Script Supervisor

Lloyd Chao

Associate Producer

Bruce Cheng

Assistant

Koe Gaik Cheng

Location Coordinator

Sot Cheng

Wardrobe Assistant

Cheuk Cheung

Art Assistant

Cheung Tsz Cheung

Production

Chan Chi-ying

Camera Operator

Kang Yung Chien

Boom Operator

Lee Chiu-wah

Production Manager

Ngai Shun Choi

Production Manager

Joel Chong

Art Director

Olivia Chong

Assistant Art Director

Roy Chow

Assistant

Soon Yong Chow

Props Assistant

Ngeow Teng Choy

Office Runner

Fred Chu

Digital Effects Artist

Chan Kam Chuen

Photography

Ng Man Chuen

Electrician

Ovidiu Cinazan

Digital Effects Artist

Michael Colier

Music Engineer

Marko Costanzo

Foley Artist

Cecile Coutelier

Music Engineer

Song Dai

Executive Producer

Sun Dan

Production Manager

Tsui Dan

Production Manager

Zhu Dan

Assistant

Joseph Dapello

Legal Services

Gisele David

Music Arranger

Ray Davies

Song Performer

Ray Davies

Song

Liu Pei De

Property Master

Rob Del Ciancio

Digital Effects Artist

Alexandre Desplat

Music

Alexandre Desplat

Original Music

Alexandre Desplat

Music Conductor

Marlene Dietrich

Song Performer

Liu Er Dong

Production Manager

Wu Pei Dong

Unit Manager

Anand Dorairaj

Digital Effects Artist

Andrew Dudman

Sound Engineer

Jason Edwardh

Animator

Edward Elgar

Song

Lee Engelmann

Colorist

Imamura Erika

Casting Assistant

Choi Shun Fai

Camera Operator

Jing Chun Fang

Wardrobe Assistant

Xi Cai Fen

Wardrobe Supervisor

Tian Feng

Coproducer

Chris Fielder

Assistant Sound Editor

Mark Filip

Sound Effects Editor

David Fix

Software Engineer

Eric Fong

Production Manager

Luk Ha Fong

Wardrobe Assistant

Wong Yuen Fong

Production

Goh Wai Foo

Location Manager

Xavier Forcioli

Music

Arthur Freed

Song

Cheng Fu

Production Coordinator

Mok Mei Fun

Production Manager

Cinnie Fung

Assistant Art Director

Shandy Lui Fung-shan

Wardrobe Supervisor

Carlos Garcia

Song Performer

Carlos Garcia

Song

Eugene Gearty

Supervising Sound Editor

Eugene Gearty

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Wang Zheng Gen

Props Assistant

Yuan Lin Gen

Props Assistant

Matt Glover

Production Assistant

Omar Gudjonsson

Digital Effects Artist

Annu Gulati

Digital Effects Artist

Zhao Han

Wardrobe Assistant

Charlie Hau

Coordinator

Looi Zuan Heng

Transportation Coordinator

Au Wing Hin

Stunts

Ng Ming Hing

Electrician

Chris Hinton

Colorist

Teng Khoon Hock

Office Runner

Richard Tee Hoe Guan

Production

Leung Wing Hong

Grip

Lai Kah Hooi

Art Department

Yeoh Guan Hooi

Production

Ong Wan Hoong

Props Assistant

Ooi Theng Hoong

Office Runner

Tang Cheong Hoong

Office Runner

Chien Hsiang

Camera Operator

Joyce Hsieh

Production Accountant

Liu Ji Hua

Camera Assistant

Liu Jian Hua

Production Manager

Meng Fan Hua

Location Manager

Yu Qing Hua

Assistant Art Director

Zhang Bao Hua

Stand-In

Ivy Huang

Assistant

Timo Huber

Digital Effects Artist

Ren Hui

Hair Stylist

Ben Hung

Stand-In

Brian Hung

Production

Leung Wai Hung

Electrician

Mak Hon Hung

Property Master

Shen Ji

Consultant

Wu Jie

Assistant Director

Zhao Jun Jie

Location Manager

Louis Jong

Key Grip

Bo Shu Jun

Office Production Assistant

Guan Jian Jun

Props Assistant

Liu Jun

Unit Manager

Tang Ya Jun

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Yang De Jun

Camera Assistant

Yao Jun

Assistant Art Director

Weng Kan

Art Department

Sasajima Kazuto

Casting Assistant

Wong Chee Keong

Art Department

Frank Kern

Foley

Chu Tak Keung

Props Assistant

Lee Khan

Casting

Yeoh Suat Khee

Art Department

Katada Kimiyo

Instructor

Lee Chi Kin

Stand-In

Cheung Koon Kiu

Props Assistant

Sew Weng Kong

Production

William Kong

Producer

Yong Ee Kooi

Office Runner

Miklos Kozary

Digital Effects Artist

David Kramer

Looping Coordinator

Nishiguchi Kumiko

Makeup Assistant

Drew Kunin

Sound Mixer

Candy Lai

Assistant

Pan Lai

Production Designer

Pan Lai

Costume Designer

Ardy Lam

Camera Operator

Du Hai Lam

Unit Manager

Eric Lam

Art Director

Kek Ting Lam

Assistant Art Director

Kenny Lam

Camera Operator

Kenny Lam

Camera Focus Puller

Stephen Lam

Co-Executive Producer

Phillip Lange

Digital Effects Artist

George Lara

Foley

Evelyn Lau

Production

Roger Lau

Accountant

Stacee Lau

Associate Producer

Max Yang Le Le

Production

Ang Lee

Producer

David Lee

Coproducer

Ed Lee

Digital Effects Artist

Hsiu-luan Lee

Casting

Jessie Lee

Instructor

Mai-ling Lee

Digital Effects Artist

Peter Lee

Interpreter

Fiona Leech

Hair Assistant

Cheng Feng Lei

Location Manager

Qu Hong Lei

Wardrobe Assistant

Shui Lei

Assistant Director

Nick Wong Voon Leong

Property Master

Yindy Leung

Production Manager

Gary Levy

Assistant Editor

Fion Li

Assistant Art Director

Miao Liang

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Xie Liang

Art Department

Xu Kang Liang

Props

Yin Jin Liang

Art Assistant

Sun Lianyu

Production Manager

Diana Liao

Interpreter

Film Details

Also Known As
Lust, Caution, Se, Jie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Period
Spy
Thriller
Release Date
2007
Production Company
Acordia; C5, Inc.; Cine-Byte Imaging Inc; Cinefinance; Discovery Film; Entertainment Partners; Focus Features; Focus Features; Focus Features; Haishang Films; Mr. X Inc.; Pivotal Post; Post Factoryny; River Road Entertainment; Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham LLP; Shanghai Film Corporation; Sil-Metropole Organization; Sound One; Studio Davout; The Post Factory; Tom Apler; Yu+Co
Distribution Company
A-Film Distribution; Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm; Ascot Elite Entertainment Group; Aurora Distribution; Bazuca; Bim Distribuzione; Blue Sky (Czech Republic); Budapest Film; CinTart; Cj Entertainment; Constantin Film Development, Inc.; Distribution Company; Edko Films; Europa Filmes; Focus Features; Gussi Films; Monolith Films Sp. Z O.O.; Norsk Filmdistribusjon; Paradise; Paradise Film Distribution Company (Russia); Paramount Pictures International (PPI); Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland Oy; Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige Ab (Sweden); Sandrew Metronome Filmdistribution As; Saturn Entertainment; Sena; Ster-Kinekor; Tobis Film; Ugc International; United International Pictures; Universal Pictures Home Entertainment; Universal Pictures International; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International; ZON Lusomundo (now part of NOS Audiovisuals)
Location
China

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 36m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

The Country of Taiwan

Winner of the 2007 Satellite Award for Best Foreign Film by the International Press Academy (IPA).

Winner of two awards including the Golden Lion for Best Film and the Osella for Best Cinematography at the 2007 Venice International Film Festival.

Released in United States Fall September 28, 2007

Expanded Release in United States October 5, 2007

Released in United States on Video February 19, 2008

Released in United States 2007

Shown at London Film Festival (Gala) October 17-November 1, 2007.

Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Special Presentations) September 27-October 12, 2007.

Shown at Venice International Film Festival (Competition) August 29-September 8, 2007.

Based on the short story "Lust, Caution" written by Eileen Chang.

Released in United States Fall September 28, 2007 (NY)

Expanded Release in United States October 5, 2007

Released in United States on Video February 19, 2008

Released in United States 2007 (Shown at London Film Festival (Gala) October 17-November 1, 2007.)

Released in United States 2007 (Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Special Presentations) September 27-October 12, 2007.)

Released in United States 2007 (Shown at Venice International Film Festival (Competition) August 29-September 8, 2007.)

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