Review of In the Mood for Love (2000) by Cinema P — 10 Oct 2009
One of, if not the finest romance film of this decade. Taking place in 60's Hong Kong, Maggie Cheung's secretary Su Li-Zhen moves into an apartment building on the same day as Tony Leung's journalist Chow Mo-Wan.
Both of them are married, yet we never see their partners. The direction takes snapshots of their small encounters: Passing by each other on the stairs, a quick glance by the Noodle stand. It all builds up to the middle section of the film, when Su Li-Zhen and Chow Mo-Wan both realise that their spouses are having an affair with each other.
After this, Su and Chow develop a complex relationship: They take turns in play-acting how their spouses affair started and developed. But after a while, the lines between acting and real-life start to blur, and the real question is whether the two of them will realise their true feelings for each other, even if it means they will be just as bad as their cheating partners.
Beautiful interiors, swirling cigarette smoke add up to make a rather film-noir feel to film, incredibly stylish all the way through. Maggie Cheung is impressive, but Tony Leung is sensational as the restrained Chow.
Wong Kar Wai's improvisationa; style at its very best.
This review of In the Mood for Love (2000) was written by Cinema P on 10 Oct 2009.
In the Mood for Love has generally received very positive reviews.
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