“Lee has consistently demonstrated a certain talent for exploring human relationships, and LUST, CAUTION is perhaps one of his thorniest, most complex works.” - Mattie Lucas, From the Front Row
“The nature of the sex is Lee's subject, and he is too honest to suppress that.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Sunday, February 18, 4:15 p.m. | Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, given an NC-17 rating upon its release in the USA, and heavily censored in the People's Republic of China, Lee’s LUST, CAUTION is a brooding, erotic espionage thriller set against the backdrop of World War II Shanghai. In this meditation on power and passion, secret agent Wang Jiazhi (Tang Wei) finds herself falling in love with the official she is assigned to assassinate (Tony Leung). As convictions collide with the complexities of desire, and sexual and political tensions ratchet up, Lee pulls the release valve by delivering a masterclass in seamlessly integrating the depiction of sex into the narrative fabric. Content consideration: includes a scene of sexual assault.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Gold Lion, Venice Film Festival
Nominee - Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes
Winner - Best Asian Film, Hong Kong Film Awards
Hot & Heavy: Leave your inhibitions at the door and unclutch your pearls: the Film Center’s screens are sizzling with the 10 sexually liberated films of Hot & Heavy. A carnal exploration of desire, passion, and physical dexterity, Hot & Heavy encourages audiences to indulge in the erotic—not as forbidden fruit, but in a celebratory embrace of what turns us on in a safe space that respectfully recognizes the cinematic power of all things bodily bawdy. Content consideration: these films contain explicit sexual content (obviously). View full series.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu