When it was first released in 2007, Lust, Caution became a film that stirred controversy for a long time due to its bold content and numerous steamy scenes featuring its main actors, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Tang Wei. The film is based on a short story of the same name by the author Eileen Chang. The story follows the life of a young student named Wong Chia Chi, who is tasked with seducing a high-ranking official, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), in order to assist a resistance group in their fight against the Japanese occupation.
The film has garnered numerous awards both domestically and internationally, including seven awards at the Golden Horse Awards, where Tony Leung won Best Actor and Tang Wei received Best New Performer. It also won awards at the BAFTA and was honored at the 64th Venice Film Festival.
However, the significant achievements of the film were almost overshadowed by controversies surrounding the explicit scenes featuring the two lead actors. Director Ang Lee dedicated 12 days (over 100 hours of filming) to shoot these intense segments in the film. The filming process proved to be one of the toughest challenges for him. “It was a very awkward time for me. Honestly, I had never felt so embarrassed before. Many people like to show off their romantic stories, but I think this is a private matter and not something to flaunt. I had to struggle a lot with my own thoughts,” said the two-time Oscar-winning director during an interview.
Ang Lee also had to manage both Tony Leung and Tang Wei as they had to perform numerous challenging scenes over an extended period. He had to constantly motivate the actors and push them to complete the scenes needed for the production. Every day, they had to rehearse 2 to 3 different variations before the team could finalize the most artistic angles to ensure emotional balance for the audience.
Fortunately, both Tang Wei and Tony Leung were very professional, willing to hear the director’s instructions, and contributed significantly to the seamless working process. Among them, Tang Wei, who portrayed her character passionately, contributed a lot of energy during the filming, ensuring that the atmosphere remained intense. When asked about their collaboration, Tony Leung expressed great appreciation for Tang Wei’s dedication, noting that she was very professional and always respected him throughout the filming process.
After Lust, Caution was released, amidst numerous accolades and prestigious awards, Tang Wei faced “censorship” for three consecutive years due to her daring performance. By 2010, the actress returned with projects like Late Autumn and Dream of a Thousand Years. Despite facing various obstacles, Lust, Caution is still regarded as a groundbreaking work, becoming a significant milestone in her career. This film also helped her gain recognition in the Asian film industry and beyond, making her one of the notable figures in the Chinese film landscape.
Regarding the male lead, Tony Leung, Lust, Caution was a strong comeback for the actor who had previously struggled to find roles that matched his talent since the 1997 film, Ashes of Time. However, this film also led to a potential scandal that strained his relationship with actress Carina Lau for an extended period.
