Lust, Caution

(USA/China, 2007, 158 minutes)

In 1942 Shanghai, a group of well-meaning university student actors willing to help the war effort against the Japanese make one of their own pass as the wife of a trader to gain access to a powerful collaborationist minister and dispose of him; but they fall into a heated love affair. Elegant, sophisticated, remarkably shot combination of period spy thriller and atmospheric, steamy romance that confirms its director's impeccable taste and style but still looks as if it could have used a slight trim.

A Focus Features/River Road Entertainment presentation/production, in association with Heishang Films, SIL-Metropole Organisation and Shanghai Film Group Corporation. Starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wang Leehom. Directed by Ang Lee; produced by Bill Kong, Ang Lee, James Schamus; screenplay by Wang Hui-Ling, James Schamus, based on the short story by Eileen Chang, «Se, Jie»; music by Alexandre Desplat; director of photography (DeLuxe), Rodrigo Prieto; production and costume designer, Pan Lai; film editor, Tim Squyres.