IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Wong Kar-sensual, wai's achingly beautiful story is not just an East Asian film highlight, but also one of the greatest romances ever committed to film. Set in British Hong Kong in the early 1960s, In the Mood for Love recounts the thriving but forbidden romance of Su Li-Zhen and Chow Mo-wan, played by East Asian movie stars Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, respectively. Their relationship is consisting of wistful looks, transient dialogue, and brief moments of passing one other in the hallway and street while living as neighbors in a tiny apartment.
Wong, renowned for his fast-paced, innovative direction in films such as Fallen Angels (1995) and Happy Together (1997), opts for a calmer, more measured approach, accentuating the characters' powerful yet repressed emotional and physical reactions. Su Li-Zhen looks like an angel in her gorgeous, exquisite outfits, and the stunning photography wonderfully depicts the rain-soaked, foggy air of Hong Kong's streets. East Asian films are rarely this visually vivid, making In the Mood for Love a must-see on this list.
Detailed information:
Writer & Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Starring: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung
Release dates: 20 May 2000
Running time: 98 minutes
