Lust, Caution is an espionage tale of passion and disguise, set in WW2 Shanghai when it was occupied by the Japanese.

It follows Wong Chia Chi (played strikingly by Tang Wei), a former drama student turned political spy. Sent by fellow drama student, Kuang Yu Min (Lee-Hom Wang), to seduce Japanese collaborator Mr Yee (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), Wong Chia Chi takes on the name of Mrs Mak, transforming herself inside and out in order to befriend Yee's wife and get closer to Mr Yee.

Years later, and with Mr Yee in an even more powerful position, Wong Chia Chi is asked by Kuang to reprise her earlier role. She agrees, and the seduction begins all over again.

Based on a short story by Eileen Chang, Lust Caution is a frank no-holds barred exploration of love and seduction where physical love and deceit become bed-pals.

It's a long film, at 158 minutes, but also satisfying, thanks largely to the engaging performances of its principal performers. Tony Leung will be well known to lovers of Asian films - his performance in In The Mood For Love being particularly memorable - whilst newcomer Tang Wei is sure to find plenty of admirers following her frank role here as a young woman finding out the pleasure and pain that goes with the language of love for the first time.