Ang Lee's Lust, Caution Gets NC-17

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgFocus Features is accepting the NC-17 rating issued to Ang Lee's LUST, CAUTION by the MPAA, reports the trades. The erotic spy thriller will make its debut at the Toronto Film Festival, before hitting New York theaters on Sept. 28, then expanding on Oct. 5.

Adapted by Focus CEO James Schamus and Wang Hui Ling from Eileen Chang's short story, the film follows a shy Chinese drama student who is pulled into plot to assassinate a Japanese collaborator during WWII. Mr. X is handling the visual effects on the project.

Though the MPAA has not released its reasons for the rating, it is certainly due to the film's sexual content. The lead female character is described, even in the production notes, as being like Maria Schneider's sexually experimental character in LAST TANGO IN PARIS. The film features various provocative sexual positions, implied oral sex and full female frontal nudity.