Lust, Caution (2007) Se, jie (original title)

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Eileen Chang (story)
James Schamus (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

24 September 2007 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller | War

Tagline:

To kill the enemy, she would have to capture his heart....and break her own.

Plot:

An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai, in which a young woman, Wang Jiazhi, gets swept up in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure, Mr. Yee.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Hong Kong | China | Resistance | Play

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 26 nominations

Cast

Tony Leung Chiu Wai	...	Mr. Yee
Wei Tang	...	Wong Chia Chi / Mak Tai Tai
Joan Chen	...	Yee Tai Tai
Leehom Wang	...	Kuang Yu Min
Chung-Hua Tou	...	Old Wu
Chih-ying Chu	...	Lai Shu Jin
Ying-hsien Kao	...	Huang Lei
Lawrence Ko	...	Liang Jun Sheng (as Ko Yu-Luen)
Johnson Yuen	...	Auyang Ling Wen / Mr. Mak
Kar Lok Chin	...	Tsao
Yan Su	...	Ma Tai Tai
Saifei He	...	Hsiao Tai Tai
Ruhui Song	...	Wang's Aunt
Anupam Kher	...	Khalid Saiduddin
Jie Liu	...	Leung Tai Tai
Hui-Ling Wang	...	Liao Tai Tai
Akiko Takeshita	...	Japanese Tavern Boss Lady
Hayato Fujiki	...	Japanese Colonel Sato
Seto Masumi	...	Geisha in Japanese Tavern
Noriko Kohyama	...	Musician in Japanese Tavern (as Koyama Noriko)
Shayam Pathak	...	Jewelry Shopkeeper
Gu Zhang-Ping	...	Hong Kong Tailor
Gao Bo-Wen	...	Male Ping-Tan Singer
Yu Qun	...	Female Ping-Tan Singer
Yat-Tung Lau	...	HKU Theater Audience (as Lau Yat Tung)
Yu Lai Cheng	...	HKU Theater Audience (female)
Yuji Kojima	...	Japanese Commander Taicho
Mizogomi Yoko	...	Japanese Teacher
Minamikata Fumika	...	Japanese Tavern Waitress
Anys Fatnassi	...	New Kiessling Cafe Waiter
Tang Ya Jun	...	Tricycle Cab Waiter
Shi Hong	...	Woman at Police Line
Deng Wei	...	Prostitute in Brothel
Li Dou	...	Old Man at Bookstore
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Lu	...	Mahjong partner of Aunt
Jacob J Ziacan	...	Western student (uncredited)

Directed by
Ang Lee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Eileen Chang		story
James Schamus		screenplay
Hui-Ling Wang		screenplay

Produced by
Lloyd Chao	....	associate producer
William Kong	....	producer
Ang Lee	....	producer
David Lee	....	co-producer
Er-Dong Liu	....	line producer
Zhong-lun Ren	....	executive producer
James Schamus	....	executive producer
Darren Shaw	....	executive producer
Dai Song	....	executive producer
Doris Tse	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Alexandre Desplat

Cinematography by
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by
Tim Squyres

Casting by
Rosanna Ng

Production Design by
Lai Pan

Art Direction by
Kwok-wing Chong		(as Joel Chong)
Che Kiu Lam		(as Eric Lam)
Sai-Wan Lau
Bill Lui
Alex Mok
Synderella Peng

Costume Design by
Lai Pan

Production Management
Gerry Robert Byrne	....	post-production supervisor
Yuk Wah Cheung	....	unit manager (as Cheung Yuk Wha)
Eric Fong	....	production manager
Chiu Wah Lee	....	production manager (as Lee Chiu Wah)
Chi On Leung	....	assistant production manager (as Leung Chi On)
Yindy Leung	....	assistant production manager
Michelle Lo	....	production manager
Mei Fun Mok	....	assistant production manager (as Mok Mei Fun)
Shun Choi Ngai	....	assistant production manager (as Ngai Shun Choi)
Wai Luen Pang	....	production manager (as Pang Wai Luen)
Ching Ngan Tam	....	assistant production manager (as Connie Tam)
Chi-Wah Tse	....	unit manager (as Tse Chi Wah)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tze Hung Lam	....	second assistant director
Charlotte Lim	....	second assistant director: Malaysia (as Charlotte Lim Lay Kuen)
David Low	....	second assistant director: Malaysia
Rosanna Ng	....	first assistant director
Jie Wu	....	third assistant director: Shanghai
Jinzhan Zhang	....	additional assistant director: crowd, Shanghai

Art Department
Wai Tong Bo	....	prop assistant (as Bo Wai Tong)
Chun-Ting Chan	....	prop assistant (as Chan Chun Ting)
Koon Kiu Cheung	....	prop assistant (as Cheung Koon Kiu)
Wai Yin Ching	....	prop master (as Ching Wai Yin)
Olivia Chong	....	assistant art director
Men Chow	....	prop assistant (as Chow Men)
Tak-Keung Chu	....	prop assistant (as Chu Tak Keung)
Cinnie Fung	....	assistant art director
Pak Shing Lai	....	prop master (as Lai Pak Shing)
Kin-wai Lee	....	assistant art director (as Lee Kin Wai)
Ying Wah Leung	....	prop assistant (as Leung Ying Wah)
Fion Li	....	assistant art director
Sai Kit Wong	....	prop master (as Wong Sai Kit)

Sound Department
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Filip	....	sound effects editor
Eugene Gearty	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Kern	....	supervising foley editor
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor
Katherine Gordon Miller	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Katherine Miller)
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor (as Branka Mrkic-Tana)
Jessica Parks	....	apprentice sound editor
Reuben Simon	....	foley editor
Reuben Simon	....	sound editor
Wyatt Sprague	....	sound effects editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Betty P. Teng	....	associate adr editor (as Betty Teng)
Roland Vajs	....	assistant adr editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Alex Thong	....	sound assistant: Malaysia (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Shiu Tim Chi	....	special effects (as Chi Shui Tim)

Visual Effects by
Mandy Au	....	lighter: Mr X
Sarah Barber	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Aaron Barclay	....	compositing lead
Michael Becki	....	digital compositor (as Mike Becki)
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	senior visual effects producer: MR. X Inc.
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects executive producer: Mr X
Kristy Blackwell	....	digital compositor
Jeff Briant	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr X Inc.
Dan Carnegie	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
Hubert Chan	....	visual effects artist: animation and tracking, Mr X
Jason Chan	....	digital compositor: Mr X
Vasistha Chawda	....	visual effects artist
Cyril Frederick Chu	....	digital modeling and texturing artist: Mr X (as Fred Chu)
Ovidiu Cinazan	....	digital compositor
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor
Jeremy Dineen	....	visual effects animator
Anand Dorairaj	....	digital compositor
Jason Edwardh	....	tracking lead
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Zachary J. Gans	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr. X Inc.
Matt Glover	....	visual effects production assistant
Omar Gudjonsson	....	digital compositor
Annu Gulati	....	digital compositor
Timo Huber	....	digital compositor
Dushyant Kashyap	....	digital effects artist
Miklos Kozary	....	digital compositor: Mr X. Inc.
Ken Lam	....	digital compositor
Phillip Lang	....	digital compositor: Mr X (as Phillip Lange)
Mai-Ling Lee	....	digital modeling and texturing artist: Mr X
Shun Sing Edward Lee	....	senior digital compositor: Mr X (as Edward Lee)
Deepa Makhija	....	digital compositor
Aisha Malik	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr X
Elliot Mallon	....	modeller
Anshul Mathuria	....	digital compositor
Jim Maxwell	....	matte painter: Mr. X Inc
Sarah McMurdo	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc
Sean Mills	....	digital modeling and texturing artist: Mr X
Daniel Mizuguchi	....	animation supervisor: Mr X
Jaideep Mohan	....	digital compositor
Ian Morehead	....	digital compositor
Mike Mulock	....	visual effects artist: animation and tracking, Mr X (as Michael Mulock)
Jesh Murthy	....	visual effects
Kevin Quatman	....	compositing lead: Mr. X Inc
Matt Ralph	....	digital effects artist: animation and tracking, Mr X
Dominic Remane	....	lighting lead
Chris Ross	....	digital effects scanning
Vishal Rustgi	....	digital compositor
Matt Schofield	....	matte painter: Mr. X Inc
Ruchira Sharma	....	digital compositor
Carolyn Shelby	....	compositing assistant: Mr X
Carolyn Shelby	....	digital effects artist
Ben Simons	....	senior technical supervisor
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor
Gavin Soares	....	visual effects artist: animation and tracking, Mr X
Tamara Stone	....	digital compositor: Mr X
Jim Su	....	visual effects artist: animation and tracking, Mr X
Brendan Taylor	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc
David Thompson	....	digital compositor
Jean-Philippe Traoré	....	Flame artist
Jean-Philippe Traoré	....	digital compositor: Mr X (as Jean Philip Traore)
Michael Turoff	....	visual effects
Lisa Tutunjian	....	digital intermediate editor
Armando Velazquez	....	digital compositor: Mr X (as Armando Velasquez)
Aaron Weintraub	....	digital compositor: Mr X
Brianne Wells	....	preliminary visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	senior visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc
Kyle Yoneda	....	effects animator
Wojciech Zielinski	....	CG supervisor: Mr.X Inc
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Mitch Paulson	....	digital colorist assist (uncredited)

Stunts
Kar Lok Chin	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Edmond Chan	....	first assistant camera
Perry Ho	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Louis Jong	....	key grip
Tsoi Kubbie	....	assistant camera
Kenny Lam	....	first assistant camera
Man-Ching Ng	....	gaffer

Casting Department
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Hsiu Luan Lee	....	additional casting: Taiwan (as Lee Hsiu Luan)
Khan Lee	....	additional casting: Taiwan
Ronnie Shum	....	casting coordinator
Angelika Wang	....	additional casting: Taiwan

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Connie Au-Yeung	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Connie Au Yeung)
Fung Shan Liu	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Liu Fung Shan)
Ha-Fong Luk	....	wardrobe assistant (as Luk Ha Fung)
Miriam	....	assistant wardrobes
Boey Wong	....	assistant wardrobes

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Stephen Byrne	....	assistant digital intermediate producer
George Chavez	....	color timer
Lee Engelmann	....	color timer
Tom Engleman	....	color timer (as Tom Englemann)
Chris Hinton	....	color timer
Gary Levy	....	first assistant editor
Yvan Lucas	....	colorist: Efilm
Tom Mayclim	....	negative cutter
Christian Prejza	....	digital intermediate producer (as Chris Prejza)
Tom Reiser	....	colorist assist: Efilm
Lisa Tutunjian	....	digital intermediate editor
Caleb Wisdorf	....	post-production coordinator
Brian George	....	colorist: Efilm (uncredited)

Music Department
Jean-Pascal Beintus	....	additional orchestrator
Christine Bergren	....	music consultant
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Christopher Briquet	....	orchestra contractor (as Christophe Briquet)
Benjamin Caillaud	....	assistant music engineer
Michael Colier	....	assistant music engineer
Cecile Coutelier	....	music assistant engineer
Gisele David	....	music preparation
Alexandre Desplat	....	conductor
Alexandre Desplat	....	orchestrator
Andrew Dudman	....	score mixer
Andrew Dudman	....	score recording engineer
Xavier Forcioli	....	composer assistant
Dan Lieberstein	....	music consultant
Jen Pray	....	music clearance
Claude Romano	....	music preparation

Other crew
Aw Bert	....	location manager
Cheuk Cheung	....	production assistant
Tsz Cheung Cheung	....	making-of
Hung Chang Chu	....	actor trainer (as Chu Hung Chang)
Ka-Yan Chu	....	stand-in: Tang Wei
Chris Cliadakis	....	archival research
Yan Dong	....	stand-in: Tang Wei
Kwong Yao Fan	....	dialogue coach (as Fan Kwong Yao)
Joyce Hsieh	....	supervising production accountant
Ben Hung	....	stand-in: Tony Leung
Wing Tai Lau	....	production assistant
Chi-Kin Lee	....	stand-in: Tony Leung
Chung Ming Lee	....	production assistant
Jessie Lee	....	instructor: mahjung
Sherrie Liu	....	script supervisor
Pei On Lo	....	actor trainer (as Lo Pei On)
Ming-Ming Lu	....	stand-in: Tony Leung
Kool Marder	....	head of production: Cinefinance Completion Bond Company
Ng Mei-Mei	....	line producer
Heidi Ng	....	production assistant
Synderella Peng	....	title designer
Chow Hin Yeung Roy	....	assistant: director
Chow Hin Yeung Roy	....	researcher
Ronnie Shum	....	production assistant
Walter Wat	....	dance instructor
Derek Wong	....	stand-in: Wang Leehom
Winky Wu	....	accountant
Max Le Le Yang	....	production intern
Nan Ye	....	stand-in: Tony Leung
Bao-Hua Zhang	....	stand-in: Wang Leehom
Cindy Zhou	....	stand-in: Tang Wei

Thanks
Rebecca Pan	....	special thanks: artistic contribution
Gustavo Santaolalla	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Hai Sheng Film Production Company (co-production)
• Shanghai Film Group
• Focus Features
• Haishang Films
• Mr. Yee Productions
• River Road Entertainment
• Sil-Metropole Organisation (in association with)

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2007-2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• CJ Entertainment (2007) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• UGC PH (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• Wise Policy (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• D Productions (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• Europa Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Film1 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Mars Entertainment (2007) (South Korea) (all media)
• NTR (2011) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Paradise Group (2007) (Russia) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (all media)

Special Effects

• Mr. X (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• C5  post-production sound facility
• Cine-Byte Imaging  film scanning
• Cinelease  special thanks
• Cinerent  equipment provided by
• Cinerent  special thanks
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Exact Cut  negative cutting
• Pivotal Post  editing equipment
• Post Factory NY  editing facility (as Post Factory)
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Shaw Studios  special thanks
• Sound One Corporation  post-production sound mixing
• Studio Davout  music recorded and mixed at
• Tai Fung (Tsu's) Co. Ltd.  film supplied by
• yU+Co.  main and end titles designed by

Also Known As:

"Se, jie" - USA (original title)

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexuality

Runtime:

157 min | 148 min (edited version)

Country:

USA | China | Taiwan | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Japanese | English | Hindi | Shanghainese | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:NC-17 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Taiwan:R-18 | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | South Korea:18 | Germany:16 | UK:18 | Australia:R | Philippines:R-18 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba) | Norway:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-15 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/18 | France:-12 | Japan:R-18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (heavily cut version) | Singapore:R21 (re-release) (uncut) | Argentina:18 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) (uncut version) | New Zealand:R18 | Peru:18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Hai Sheng Film Production Company

Trivia:

The rather explicit sex scenes were shot over 11 days on a closed set, with only the main camera and sound personnel present.

Goofs:

Continuity: The story ends with Mr. Yee and Wong picking up the ring just after the mahjong game from the opening scene. During this game one of the ladies mentions a ring with a gemstone as large as an egg. While choosing the gem for the ring earlier in the story Wong refers to this remark which clearly takes place later on in the story.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tiles of Deception, Lurid Affections: The Making of 'Lust, Caution' (2008) (V)

Judge LUST CAUTION a day later.

When I saw LUST CAUTION yesterday I wasn't sure what to think. There were moments of transcendence and many others of what, at the time, seemed like tedium. I was frustrated that I couldn't decide if this was a masterpiece right away as I was with BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE ICE STORM, and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON. When I woke up this morning I couldn't stop thinking about it. It has haunted me all day and I want to see it again. Perhaps my expectations were so high that I had trouble appreciating what I was watching. More than likely I was anticipating the already notorious sex scenes. In any case LUST CAUTION is another masterpiece by Ang Lee that may take time for some to appreciate it. Years to come it will be studied and watched compulsively. It will strike debate among cinephiles of its worth. Most importantly it will be a film to be treasured, perhaps not by many, but by a very enlightened few.

During the sex scenes I was holding my breath. Lee's slow burn toward these instant classic scenes was like foreplay leading to an explosive climax. Lee's themes of repression and double lives continue in LUST CAUTION. I look forward to savoring and arguing about this film for years to comes.