In 1960s Hong Kong, two neighbors form an intimate bond after making a discovery about their spouses in this visually stunning tale of unrequited love.
| Tagline | Feel the heat, keep the feeling burning, let the sensation explode. |
| Release Date: | Sep 29, 2000 |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Production Company: | Block 2 Pictures, Paradis Films, Jet Tone Production |
| Production Countries: | Hong Kong, France |
| Casts: | Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Siu Ping-Lam, Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen, Joe Cheung Tung-Cho, Chan Man-Lei, Koo Kam-Wah, Mama Hung, Paulyn Sun, Roy Cheung Yiu-Yeung |
| Status: | Released |
| Budget: | $3000000 |
| Revenue: | 15867968 |
This is a fine piece of cinema from Wong Kar-Wai that tells us a story of two people whom circumstance throws together - but not in a way you might expect. We start with two couples who move into a new building. One a newspaper man with his wife, the other a business executive and his wife. The businessman is rarely at home, nor is the journalist's wife - which leaves the other two at increasingly loose ends. It isn't long before a friendship develops - usually over some noodles - and though entirely platonic, their relationship becomes solid and trusting. Then, something entirely unexpected occurs that causes the two to refocus their relationship in the face of betrayal and disappointment - and well.... What helps this film stand out are the performances from both Tony Leung ("Chow Mo-wan") and the gorgeous Maggie Cheung ("Mrs. Chan") - it's a love story, and it burns intensely - but not physically - as their story subsumes both themselves and the audience. The film looks marvellous, is paced stylishly and uses quite a bit of Nat King Cole to set and keep the mood atmospheric, romantic and interesting. The photography offers us lingering close ups, we get a sense of them falling in love as if we, too, were undergoing the same experience and that all adds to the richness of the story. To give us a breather from the intensity, there are some fun scenes with their very close neighbours who love nothing better than to sit up all night playing mahjong!! Super film, this - flew by.
