'Lust, Caution' is a dazzling spy thriller

ANG LEE’S spellbinding Lust, Caution (Universal; €24.99) is a dazzling, compulsively watchable spy thriller, mixing eroticism and a powerful performance by newcomer Wei Tang.

Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in 1942, student Mak Tai-Tai (Wei) sets out to seduce and help assassinate government collaborator Mr Yee (Tony Leung).

Beautifully filmed, the action moves at a slow but typically Lee-paced fashion and, together with the rather graphic sex scenes — not gratuitous, it must be said — we are drawn into unfolding events.

Sadly, just a short making-of feature accompanies this release.

Drama

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