Director: Wong Kar-wai
Writer: Wong Kar-wai
Notable Actors: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai
My second Wong Kar-wai for the week. I can see elements of Days of Being Wild, but he has tightened his storytelling, delivering one of the best 'almost romances' in cinema history. Cheung and Leung are great; they wear the beautiful costumes well, have wonderful chemistry, and are both masters of saying much with tiny facial movements. The music is superb, both the songs and the main theme, a melancholic waltz matched to the actors' movements in slow-motion.
Wong Kar-wai's decision not to show us Mr Chan and Mrs Chow except only from the back, was a clever idea, heightening the isolation their spouses feel. The 'rehearsal' scenes were deliberately disorientating; their relationship is blended in with their own marriages and their spouses adulterous one. I really enjoyed this, and am liking my experience of Wong Kar-wai so far.
I love this movie. Love it, love it, love it. There is such longing and ache in this. There's so much requited but unfulfilled passion here that I can't help but be moved by it.
ReplyDeleteThat same quality is one of the best things about Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon as well. Love that should be expressed but cannot be is somehow the most tragic thing there is.
I felt that the 'universe' was constantly trying to get them together, but they kept holding back. That tension was perfectly executed. I really wanted them to say how they felt, but also didn't want it to end. Gah!
DeleteAnd I am glad there wasn't a 'Hollywood' ending.