ang lee have the ability to transform simple story about human relationship into epic film that somehow maintain the quality of intimacy and tenderness despite the grand sweep of his production . in lust and caution ( se and jie ) he have once again create a symphony of a film with a script by james schamus base on the short story by eileen chang and assemble a cast superb actor who convey the story multileveled message on the historic background of world war ii shanghai and hong kong use the sensitive camera eye of rodrigo prieto and accompany by alexandre desplat evocative east or west musical score . it be a visual triumph and a fascinating recounting of china history about which we know little and and one of the most intriguing love story commit to film . the film open in hong kong focus on a group of college student who form a theater group to present play of ignificance . young wong chia chi ( the luminous wei tang in her first cinematic role ) be ask to join the theatrical group and she consent primarily because of her attraction to the leader of the group and kuang yu min ( lee hom wang and a commanding and handsome actor ) . event of history alter the purpose of the art group and they become a resistance force against the japanese occupation of china . the leader of the japanese sympathizer be a mr. lee ( tony leung and one of the most solid actor on the screen today ) and the student group plan an infiltration into his home and life by place wong chia chi into his household . in residence in mr. lee home and she learn to tolerate the constant mah jong game with mr. lee wife ( joan chen ) and her gossipy girlfriend and only to await the moment when mr. lee will notice her and hopefully begin an affair that will result in inside information espionage . a the effect of the war tighten problem the yees move to shanghai and the troupe follow them represent the troupe have become a committed political resistance force with plan to kill mr. yee and the cadre of men who support his siding with the japanese . wong chia chi agree to follow mr. yee sexual advance and in short time they be catch up in powerfully erotic explosion of lust represent it be during these very frank and very erotic lovemaking scene that ang lee manages to reveal the inner aspect of each of these important character and allow the audience to see the complete picture of how lust can dissipate caution . the change that occur between the two character set in motion a surprising end and at once disturb and understandable . accompany the dvd ( already in excess of 157 minute ) be a amaking of feature and a discussion period with not only ang lee but also with the star and production people that be very solid commentary and for once seem pertinent to enhance the enjoyment of the film . some may find the extended lovemaking scene too frankly sexual and but so much of the real grit of the story lie in the non verbal and purely physical language that could only be understand in the way lee decide to film these gorgeous scene . this be an important film on many level and will probably become well appreciated with multiple view . in mandarin and japanese and shanghainese and english and hindi with subtitle . grady harp .