MUBI

One of the great visual treats of the 90’s, and one of the most excruciating break-up films of all time, Wong Kar Wai’s third consecutive film to deal with the complexities of human communication and sexual frustration in a modern context is his most progressive film to date. And also, possibly, his most difficult, following two Hong Kong gay lovers who become stranded while on vacation in Argentina and, through an entire movie’s worth of jump cuts and time ellipses, break up and reunite with the passion and hatred of a Liz Taylor/Richard Burton romance, bouncing between lyrically beautiful and hazy color and hypnotic, depressing black and white (from the gifted lens of master Christopher Doyle). Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung are brilliant as the forever incompatible lovers, though through all of the fights, the actors bring a sensibility to their performances that suggests a love that once flourished, but collapses in a land of improbable future, and impossible dreams.

“I fiinally understood how he could be happy running around so free.
It’s because he has a place he can always return to.

A lot of people are trapped by their circumstances or their own inhibitions. Sometimes you fall for some people because they are all that you have. The combination of these, is only ever heart-breaking. A magnificent tale.

The cinematography transports you through the emotions of this film with its constant changes eliciting a different cinematic epochs. Visually stunning.

I think you can tell a lot about a director from the way s/he approaches his/her subject matter. The fact that in this movie Wong Kar Wai never , even for a split second, puts any emphasis on the sexuality of his characters, and treat them just like any regular people who are trying to deal with their failing relationship and disappointments, proves ones again that Kar-Wai is not only one of the most stylish directors of modern Cinema, but he is also one of the most Classy ones as well…