award-winning erotic thriller from renowned director ang lee. the film is set during the japanese occupation of shanghai during world war ii. wong chia chi (wei tang) is a student involved in a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top japanese collaborator, mr yee (tony leung chiu wai). wong has transformed herself inside and out to become the sophisticated mrs mak, who will attempt to gain yee's trust by befriending his wife (joan chen) and then draw the man into an affair. as she is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit.