Hong Kong. Early 1960’s. A married man & a married woman move become neighbours and find out that their respective partners are having an affair.
From this premise, Wong Kar-wai, instead of following the lovers, follows the betrayed couple as they tentatively try to find out if they have anything in common. The adulterous couple are only ever seen from behind, a glimpse of a shoe etc.
Stylistically perfect, the film moves from ornamentation, with beautiful ‘60s decors, the numerous stunning robes of Mme Suen (Maggie Cheung, fantastic) all seen through veils, hidden corners, corridors until little by little the film concentrates less on the people and more on inanimate objects; emptying into - stone, ruins until the last 15 minutes when M.Chow (Tony Leung) realizes that, after the departure of his neighbour, that nothing will ever be the same – he leaves Hong Kong, crossing Singapore and Cambodia, to finish at the Ankor Temple.
You’re left with the sensation that the sand has run out on this particular story as existence itself runs inexorably on.
Well worth seeing if it come your way.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - In The Mood For Love by Wong Kar-wai - a review (kind of..) - Jeff Starrs 08:28:56 07/26/01 (0)