Ang Lee's sexy spy thriller Lust, Caution won seven prizes at the Golden Horse Awards including best film, director and actor.

Director Ang Lee's Lust, Caution garnered 7 Golden Horse awards, the Chinese-language world's equivalent of the Oscars.
(Wally Santana/Associated Press)

The Golden Horse Awards are the Chinese-language world's equivalent of the Oscars. Lee, originally from Taiwan, accepted the awards at a gala in Taipei on Saturday night.  

Upon accepting his trophy for Taiwanese filmmaker of the year, the 53-year-old director took the opportunity to highlight the political plight of his homeland, saying that Taiwan had "suffered many injustices."

He also expressed delight at winning the award: "My point of view, my style are all from Taiwan … I feel very warm in the heart to receive everyone's affirmation."

Taiwan split from mainland China amid a civil war in 1949 and has since then suffered from the strong-arm tactics of the Chinese government, which has made moves to prevent Taiwan from being recognized as an independent nation.

Lee reminded his countryman that "our biggest advantage is our freedom" and wrapped up his speech with: "Go Taiwanese film!"

The film also garnered awards for its leads: Hong Kong actor Tony Leung won the best male actor trophy for his portrayal of ruthless spy chief while actress Tang Wei was named best new performer. The film also won best adapted screenplay, best score and best makeup and costume design.

Lust, Caution is based on a short story by Eileen Chang. The steamy story concerns a young woman who goes undercover to assassinate the Japanese-allied spy chief running Shanghai during the Second World War.

The movie marks a return to Chinese-language film for Lee, who won a directing Oscar for 2005's Brokeback Mountain. Lee's last big Chinese-language film was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000.

Veteran actress garners award

Other winners included a best actress trophy for Joan Chen for her portrayal of a struggling nightclub singer living in 1960s Australia in The Home Song Stories. Chen recently received a trophy for the same role at the Australian Film Institute Awards.

The 46-year-old performer said her win was special because "fewer good roles are available when you reach a certain age."
  
Tony Leung Ka-fai won best supporting actor for playing a gangster trying to protect his son from revenge in The Drummer and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing was named best supporting actress for playing a ghost in The Matrimony.

The gala included a posthumous tribute to filmmaker Edward Yang, who was given the lifetime achievement award. Yang was recognized as one of the pioneers of Taiwan's New Wave.

The director's award-winning films include 1991's A Brighter Summer Day, A Confucian Confusion (1994), Mahjong (1996) and Yi Yi (A One and A Two ) in 2000.

Yang died of complications from colon cancer in June.