Film awards are cautious about ‘Lust’

HONG KONG -- “Lust, Caution” was rejected from Academy Award consideration as best foreign-language film and now it has failed to qualify for the top categories at the Hong Kong Film Awards, a major honor in Chinese-language cinema.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had turned down the movie as Taiwan’s entry in the foreign film competition because even though director Ang Lee hails from Taiwan, not enough other Taiwanese took part in making it. Organizers of the Hong Kong Film Awards cited a similar problem Thursday, saying not enough Hong Kong residents worked on the movie.

The much-hyped “Lust, Caution” is about a sexually charged relationship between an undercover activist (Tang Wei) and the Japanese-allied intelligence chief (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) in World War II-era Shanghai.

To qualify for the major award categories at the Hong Kong Film Awards, such as best film and best director, movies must meet at least two of three requirements: a Hong Kong director, a Hong Kong film company and at least eight Hong Kong residents were among the key creative talent.

“Lust, Caution” still qualifies for the event’s best Asian film prize, which is open to non-Hong Kong movies.

The best-known Chinese-language film honor is Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards. “Lust, Caution” has qualified for that event, scheduled for Dec. 8.