<<色，戒>>

Mrs. Mak from Lust, Caution thought she was in full control of the situation by being a sex bait to assassinate Mr. Yee. When the lies get too close to heart, things get out of hand. Faked emotions which were acted for the task suddenly became real. I especially liked this song she sang to Mr. Yee at the Japanese restaurant because the lyrics captured the essence of the movie:

天涯呀海角

觅呀觅知音

小妹妹唱歌郎奏琴

郎呀咱们俩是一条心

爱呀爱呀郎呀

咱们俩是一条心

家山呀北望

泪呀泪沾襟

小妹妹想郎直到今

郎呀患难之交恩爱深

爱呀爱呀郎呀

患难之交恩爱深

人生呀谁不惜呀惜青春

小妹妹似线郎似针

郎呀穿在一起不离分

爱呀爱呀郎呀

穿在一起不离分

Ultimately, the cloistered circumstances dressed in fake riches, the lonely and empty emotional health of Mrs. Mak from sacrificing her virginity for the greater good and the 6-carat pink diamond ring shattered her fragile made-up world.

Sometimes, diamonds may not really be a girl's best friend. Mrs. Mak finally believed Mr. Yee's love for her was true with the gift of a 6-carat diamond ring and she gave the mission away (which led to her death). To be fair, I do not blame her foolishness - I think I would have done the same. Mr. Yee was very convincing with his line:

"I'm not really interested in the diamond. I am only interested to see how it looks on your finger."

I think the loneliness of coping with the accumulated emotions which were threatening to over-run into reality fell apart at that moment and Mrs. Mak caved and gave up her act. In her made-up world, I think she finally decided to accept Mr. Yee's feelings were true and chose to protect his life. It was a very tragic end when Mr. Yee had to sentence her execution. I guess love does not conquer self-preservation.

Sometimes when you think you know what you are doing, you actually do not - life plays you out and takes an unexpected turn.