What I am about to relate here must be prefaced by a confession of my own limitations. I am not a history scholar, not even a buff. My relative ignorance about WWII is glaring in attempting to give you a just sense of this movie.

The setting is Asia, Shanghai, more specifically, pre and early WWII. My frustration with appreciating this film began with the challenge of overcoming the distraction of a Chinese language film with white subtitles over a moving and often white background. An hour into the film, I was asking myself, “What the hell is going on here?” if I were to recommend this film, it would be with a recent study of Chinese/Japanese relations pre WWII, if not a Cliff Note course in Chinese. Too often, the subtitles, several lines long, were flashed on the screen for just a second or two, hardly time to be read.

The title is truly an understatement. Walking in the snow back to the parking lot, such comments as, “brutal”, “gratuitous violence, sex and violent sex.” resonated from patrons. There was no applause during or following the credits, rather there was deafening silence. Ang Lee left me/us stunned, not praising a stunning film that I admit I had an expectation of. I prefer to go into a film without expectation, not necessarily even knowing anything about the subject . . . a clean slate to be impressed upon. Lust, Caution is an exception. I wish that I had brushed up on the history of the Chinese/Japanese tensions of that time and had some familiarity with Chan Ailing’s story and style. Ang Lee is quoted as saying, “we didn’t really “adapt” Chan’s work, we re-enacted it, just as her characters act and re-enact their parts.

As far as the art and craft of filmmaking, this effort was substantial. Beautifully lit and photographed, well cast and my reaction to the film speaks to the quality of direction and acting. Filmed on location in Shandhai, only elaborate preparation and local cooperation allowed this to be made.

Approach this film with caution and reserve your lusts for more appropriate targets.

Next on my ticket and schedule is, “The Bucket List”, Rob Reiner’s latest directorial effort. An all-star cast including, Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes and Rob Morrow perform. Screening is in Aspen Wednesday, December 26 at 5:30 PM, Harris Hall.

What does your list of, “To Dos”, before you, “kick the bucket”, look like?

Have a very Merry Christmas and Love and Peace to you and yours throughout the Holidays.