"Brokeback Mountain" (2005): 340,000. "Hulk" (2003): 860,000. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000): 560,000. These box-office figures in Korea for the previous films made by Taiwanese director Ang Lee are not so spectacular. But few had expected the erotic espionage thriller "Lust, Caution" to emerge as such a trailblazing hit here.
"Lust, Caution" was released at 227 theaters across the nation on Nov. 8, and about 40,000 audiences watched the film on the opening day -- a respectable performance, considering that Korean moviegoers are not big fans of artistic films. But Lee's latest take on human desire and limitations, which took top honors at the Venice Film Festival this year, seems to be an exception.
The film, based on a novel by Eileen Chang, tells the story of a group of revolutionary Chinese students plotting to assassinate a powerful Japanese-allied intelligence chief in World War II-era Shanghai.
One of the key factors that boosted the publicity of "Lust, Caution" in Korea is the controversial sex scenes that earned the film its NC-17 rating in the United States. For the release in mainland China, director Lee himself cut seven minutes from the film -- specifically, two scenes of violent and acrobatic sex.
Strangely enough, the Korean authorities did not use their usually strict standards, perhaps in recognition of the film's artistic merits. As a result, Korean audiences can see the uncut version of "Lust, Caution."
Despite (or because of) the graphic scenes and the relatively long running time of 157 minutes, the film proved to be one of the most successful foreign arthouse films this year. In just 18 days, it sold 1 million tickets here, showcasing the fresh potential of Taiwanese films.
According to the box-office figures released on Monday by the Korean Film Council, "Lust, Caution" attracted a total of 1.36 million moviegoers, maintaining the No. 3 slot of the previous week.
The local media has highlighted the unexpected success of the film, attributing this to the word-of-mouth effect. Female viewers especially seem to appreciate the film's delicate depiction of passionate love between the main characters, and the morning screenings of the film -- mostly targeting housewives -- have been quite successful.
Critics have had mixed reactions to the unprecedented success of this type of film. The movie's respectable box-office record has undermined the assumption that artistic films are not likely to do well in Korea. Local moviegoers, after all, tend to respond to well-made films, regardless of whether they are homegrown or imported.
But the flip side of the same box-office coin is that it remains uncertain why local audiences have such as keen interest in this film, as opposed to other foreign arthouse features. Some attribute the peculiar phenomenon to the great curiosity about the sex scenes; this interest has of course been fanned by the local media. "Lust, Caution" is also creating a sensation in China, despite the cut made by the director himself. The movie has also made a strong showing in other markets including Hong Kong, and widespread media coverage is boosting its stature across Asia.
The film is praised for showcasing the powerful acting of the two central characters -- Tony Leung and Tang Wei.
Source: Korea Herald
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