I haven't watched much of Chinese or Japanese films. When I was surfing the web for romantic films, I stumbled upon the acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love (2000). Inquiring further revealed that this film has won several awards and accolades in film festival circuits including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
The film opens with these words running in the black screen -
"It is a restless moment. She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away."
And it pretty much sums up the film.
The film is set in Hong Kong of 1962. In an apartment, Mr. and Mrs. Chow rents a room in the same day as Mr. and Mrs. Chan. The spouses of Mr. Chow and Mrs. Su Chan often do overtime shifts so they find themselves spending time alone in their respective rooms. Being next-door neighbours they come across each other in the daily life and become friends.
Chow and Su while dining together outside, they figure out that their spouses are having illicit affair. They get hurt and decide that they should never be unfaithful like their spouses. They analyse how the affair happened between their spouses by re-enacting. As the time goes by, they end up falling in love for real. But their conscience represses them to continue. After much deliberation, when they decide to live together their fate separates them forever.
Given the theme of the film, one may guess that there would be many intimate scenes. There is none. Yes, not even a single kissing scene! That makes this film special.
Another interesting feature in this film is that both Mr. Chan and Mrs. Chow are never seen in the screen. Thereby, the director prompts us to focus on Mr. Chow and Mrs. Su Chan's relationship rather than their illicit spouses'.
The film intricately weaves the circumstances that leads the next-door neighbours - Chow and Su to build a rapport - like, been rented the rooms in the same day, their belongings get interchanged by the movers; Chow asking a favour from Su (who works in a shipping company) to get a ticket to Singapore for his friend; Su asking for newspaper from Mr. Chan; they come across each other when they individually go to buy noodles...
The story might seem simple but this film is not for the entertainment but to taste... even the subtle details.
"It is a restless moment. She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away."
And it pretty much sums up the film.
The film is set in Hong Kong of 1962. In an apartment, Mr. and Mrs. Chow rents a room in the same day as Mr. and Mrs. Chan. The spouses of Mr. Chow and Mrs. Su Chan often do overtime shifts so they find themselves spending time alone in their respective rooms. Being next-door neighbours they come across each other in the daily life and become friends.
Chow and Su while dining together outside, they figure out that their spouses are having illicit affair. They get hurt and decide that they should never be unfaithful like their spouses. They analyse how the affair happened between their spouses by re-enacting. As the time goes by, they end up falling in love for real. But their conscience represses them to continue. After much deliberation, when they decide to live together their fate separates them forever.
Given the theme of the film, one may guess that there would be many intimate scenes. There is none. Yes, not even a single kissing scene! That makes this film special.
Another interesting feature in this film is that both Mr. Chan and Mrs. Chow are never seen in the screen. Thereby, the director prompts us to focus on Mr. Chow and Mrs. Su Chan's relationship rather than their illicit spouses'.
The film intricately weaves the circumstances that leads the next-door neighbours - Chow and Su to build a rapport - like, been rented the rooms in the same day, their belongings get interchanged by the movers; Chow asking a favour from Su (who works in a shipping company) to get a ticket to Singapore for his friend; Su asking for newspaper from Mr. Chan; they come across each other when they individually go to buy noodles...
The story might seem simple but this film is not for the entertainment but to taste... even the subtle details.
The background music is soulful which lingers even after the film ends. The exquisite cinematography also captures the mood well. Both music and cinematography bolsters this emotional and visually stylish film to row smoothly like a boat in a peaceful sea.
