Oscar-winning director Ang Lee’s erotic espionage thriller, ‘Lust, Caution,’ has been given an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Assn. of America, signaling to parents that the film may be inappropriate for audiences 17 and under, and restricting admission to only those 18 and older. The film earned the MPAA’s strict rating because of ’some explicit sexuality.’
Focus Features, which will premiere the movie Friday at the Venice Film Festival, issued a statement Thursday by chief executive James Schamus noting that the company has accepted the rating without protest. Schamus co-wrote the screenplay with Wang Hui Ling.
Based on a short story by Eileen Chang, the Mandarin-language film is set against the backdrop of World War II and Japan’s occupation of the Chinese city of Shanghai. The plot revolves around a group of Chinese students who plan to assassinate a Japanese collaborator. The film stars Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen and Wang Leehom.
Lee previously directed such films as “Brokeback Mountain,” for which he won the Academy Award for best director, and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
“Lust, Caution” will be released Sept. 28 in New York City, and then open wider Oct. 5, including the Landmark in West Los Angeles and the ArcLight in Hollywood.
xx — xx
After winning an Academy Award honor last year, Ang Lee is bringing his fans another big-screen masterpiece. Now let’s take a sneak peek at the movie entitled “Lust, Caution”.
This latest offering from Oscar winning director Ang Lee is an espionage thriller set in World War II-era Shanghai.
The story is about a young woman who is swept up in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure.
The screenplay was adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang by Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” screenwriter, Wang Hui-Ling. It’s the first Asian-themed film that Lee has directed since 2000’s Oscar-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.
Lee’s most recent film was “Brokeback Mountain”. It won him Best Director at the 2006 Academy Awards.
“Lust, Caution” will show in competition at this year’s Venice film festival.
