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Also Known As: - |
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| Year of first release: 2000 | |
| Director: Wong Kar-wai | |
| Actors: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung | |
| Country: HK, F | |
| Genre: Romance | |
| Conditions of visioning: 28.10.2014, DVD, | |
| Synopsis: Set in Hong Kong, 1962, Chow Mo-Wan (Leung) is a newspaper editor who moves into a new building with his wife. At the same time, Su Li-zhen (Cheung), a beautiful secretary and her executive husband also move in to the crowded building. With their spouses often away, Chow and Li-zhen spend most of their time together as friends. They have everything in common from noodle shops to martial arts. Soon, they are shocked to discover that their spouses are having an affair. Hurt and angry, they agree to keep their bond platonic not to commit similar wrongs. | |
| Review: The story is moving and sounds like Cyrano de Bergerac story about a love that is not realised. The main originality of the movie is the directing as a whole. The picture composition focuses on both main characters and uses mostly warm colours. The camera often starts at the feet of the character and then goes to the face or the face enters in the field of view. The scenery is very common (HK appartments, street corner) but the way to take it is very special. If the half is blurred or not in the light, it is on purpose to enhance the romance. The spouses are never shown because Wong Kar-wai wanted even to remove them completely from the picture. Instead we listen to them a couple of times. The selection of old songs (Nat King Cole) and new compositions (by Japanese componist Shigeru Umebayashi) emphasises the dramatic romance. And the scenes taken in slow motion enhance the romantic feeling and sensuality of both partners. After the release of the movie in 2000, papers claimed the style being "Chinese school" although it was definitely the Wong Kar-wai style. And the movie is from Hong-Kong. I guess that nowadays with the efforts done in Europe via Asian festivals like FEFF there is no much chance to read this kind of thing. |
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Rating: 9 /10
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More than entertainment, an Art.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
In the mood for love (2000)
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I watched In the Mood for Love some years ago, after listening the soundtrack that I actually got from you. As you describe it, I did like the composition and the way the movie is shot and the story told. And I already knew and liked the music. But that was for the first half hour only. Then I found that there was nothing new and that it was all too repetitive, so I lost interest. That is a pity because the point of view was interesting. My rating would be 5/10.
ReplyDeleteI have never been very motivated to watch another Wong Kar-Wai movie ever since.