In the Mood for Love (2000)

[zen007]

In the Mood for Love (2000)
Director: Wong Kar-wai
Oscars: Not Applicable

In the 60s HK, two neighbors discover that their spouses are having an affair with the other's spouse. The story focuses on how the neighbors deal with the issue by not only consoling each other but also trying to understand what could have driven their spouses to infidelity. In the process, they discover that love happens.

• Story/Screenplay: The story is mostly focused on the two key characters. Their spouses are hardly ever shown (we do not see their faces) but we are constantly aware that there are 4 characters in the play much like how in Hitchcock's Rebecca, she seems to be present despite not being present. The interest to know what happens next and how the story would end is constantly maintained. (10/10)
  
• Acting: Acting here is about subtleties, style, and sophistication. It is about the glance when passing each other, the rumination while smoking, dealing with life's daily rigmarole, and so on. The key actors have been nominated for acting at many events and won a few awards as well. (10/10)
  
• Cinematography: The intelligent use of frames within frames and colors creates an engaging visual style for the film. (10/10)
  
• Background score: Since many sequences use subtitles such as a glance to convey emotions, the score adds to highlight those emotions. On its own, the score is good to listen to. (10/10)
  
• Direction: The director has crafted an intelligent film that reveals its cards at the right moments. (10/10)
  
• Uniqueness/Impact: In the romance-drama genre, this is a film that focuses on perfectly presenting the relatively few elements it showcases - the interactions b/w the two key characters in a selected environment, relying on subtleties, innovative cinematography, and an impactful background score. Can't ask for more. (10/10)

Overall score 60/60 = 100% = 10/10 (Great 9-10, Good/Above Average 7-8, Average 5-6, Bad Below Average 3-4, Worst 1-2)

The film celebrated its 20th anniversary recently and a restored transfer was introduced too (no 4K UHD yet?) therefore it is a good time to connect/reconnect with the film ... Is it one of your favorites?

[Mothravka]

Very good and elegant film. Not an absolute favourite, but absolutely one of my favourites from the 2000s.

I have the Criterion Blu-ray, but recently got the World of Wong Kar Wai set too. Due for another rewatch soon!

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Mothravka

I have the Criterion Blu-ray, but recently got the World of Wong Kar Wai set too. Due for another rewatch soon!

Would like to know what you think about the old v new transfer.

[Sommerswerd]

For folks in the bay area, the Roxie Theater in San Francisco will be showing the film for one night only on August 25th: https://www.roxie.com/ai1ec_event/in...tance_id=41493

[Scottie]

I consider this my second favorite film of all-time behind Lost in Translation.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Scottie

I consider this my second favorite film of all-time behind Lost in Translation.

What do you like the most about In the Mood for Love?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by zen007

What do you like the most about In the Mood for Love?

It's as close to perfection as a film comes, in my opinion.

The story, simplistic in nature, blends romance with fate, chance encounters, and missed opportunities, and is set in an era where cultural/societal pressures were weighed and felt far greater than they are today. In typical Wong Kar-wai fashion, the film plays out rather unexpectedly. (The ending in particular is a personal favorite of mine.) The film is hypnotizing, thanks to the soundtrack/score, cinematography by Christopher Doyle (whom WKW has collaborated with frequently), and outstanding/natural-like acting by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. It feels like a living dream.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Scottie

It's as close to perfection as a film comes, in my opinion.

The story, simplistic in nature, blends romance with fate, chance encounters, and missed opportunities, and is set in an era where cultural/societal pressures were weighed and felt far greater than they are today. In typical Wong Kar-wai fashion, the film plays out rather unexpectedly. (The ending in particular is a personal favorite of mine.) The film is hypnotizing, thanks to the soundtrack/score, cinematography by Christopher Doyle (whom WKW has collaborated with frequently), and outstanding/natural-like acting by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. It feels like a living dream.

This is one of the films that I could rewatch just after finishing it

[Rizor]

It's terrific!

[Modren]

Wong Kar Wai is Releasing Never-Before-Seen In the Mood For Love Footage as NFT Short Film

While Wong Kar Wai’s long-in-development Blossoms Shanghai will finally see the light of day hopefully next year, the director has been revisiting his past works with a Coppola-like interest. There were the post-production changes he made for the new Criterion restorations of his work, the premiere of a new documentary on deleted scenes from his filmography, and now, the Hong Kong master is taking an unexpected route when it comes to unveiling never-before-seen footage from In the Mood for Love.

As part of a Sotheby’s auction this October, which also includes the Happy Together leather jacket worn by Leslie Cheung, Wong has created his first-ever NFT. Titled In the Mood for Love – Day One, it features never-before-seen footage shot on the first production day of his 2000 masterpiece. The NFT short film “contains rare footage starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as characters utterly different from the iconic lovers in the original film,” the description reads.

“All creation originates from a single thought,” Wong said. “The “Humane King Sutra” describes that every thought consists of ninety flashes, and within each flash lives nine hundred sparks and extinguishments. Where did the first thought of In the Mood for Love originate from? Hard to say. What’s certain was that February 13, 1999 was the first day when I put that thought into action. The first day of every film production is like the first date with your dream lover — it is filled with fright and delight, like skating on thin ice. An arrow never returns to its bow; twenty years on, this arrow is still soaring.”

https://thefilmstage.com/wong-kar-wa...ft-short-film/

[Page14]

[QUOTE=Modren;19319937]Wong Kar Wai is Releasing Never-Before-Seen In the Mood For Love Footage as NFT Short Film

<snip>

NFT? ...

[Mothravka]

Originally Posted by Modren

Wong Kar Wai is Releasing Never-Before-Seen In the Mood For Love Footage as NFT Short Film

<snip>

NFT? ...

Non-fungible token.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_token

[Member-244966]

Seeing this for the first time next week at the cinema. Saw Happy Together today, my first Wong Kar-Wai, and it really wasn't for me so I hope I feel warmer towards this one.

[Cremildo]

An expanded edition of Wong Kar-wai’s 'In the Mood for Love' with nearly 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage is premiering next month

In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary, a new 4K remastered edition of In the Mood for Love will arrive in China, fittingly, on Valentine’s Day. While it’s unclear if it will be the same recent (and controversially green-tinged) restoration that Janus Films released, this new edition will feature 9 minutes and 9 seconds of never-before-seen footage, local media reports. It’s not yet confirmed what the new footage will entail, but reports indicate it may include the sex scene between Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung that was deleted but revealed in promotional stills.

[PondaBaba]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

[Show spoiler]An expanded edition of Wong Kar-wai’s 'In the Mood for Love' with nearly 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage is premiering next month

Interesting. I would have thought it would have the 4K restoration’s colour grade so surprised to read the authors of that questioning whether it will be the case. Worth mentioning that while I’m not sure how it occurred, a new 35mm archival print that did *not* have the new colour grade was made off the back of the 4K restoration source for the BFI a couple of years ago. Coincidentally we’ve got another cinema in town running 35mm screenings over the next month or two that I’m assuming will be an old release print

[Mr. Chaverria]

Ah, yes. The color grading revisionism he did. It's funny. Out of may directors that did do stuff like that and took us off guard initially. Wong Kar Wai doing it didn't surprise me, seems like the guy that is always tweaking his works officially or unofficially.

Hrmm.... Wonder what Christopher Doyle is up to nowadays?

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chaverria

Ah, yes. The color grading revisionism he did. It's funny. Out of may directors that did do stuff like that and took us off guard initially. Wong Kar Wai doing it didn't surprise me, seems like the guy that is always tweaking his works officially or unofficially.

Hrmm.... Wonder what Christopher Doyle is up to nowadays?

I’m so sick of filmmakers indulging in this Lucas-Cameron nonsense .

[Mr. Chaverria]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

I’m so sick of filmmakers indulging in this Lucas-Cameron nonsense .

In some cases, it is the filmmakers. In some others, it's whoever handles the remastering. Which is maybe worse. Cinecittà has done it so much. It's one thing if Cameron changes the colors. It's another thing if people who didn't work on the film remastering and literally change the colors to fit whatever they think it's supposed to do. And those folks are supposed to care about film history and preservation. It's wild.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by The Film Stage

Following a Valentine’s Day release in Hong Kong, Wong Kar-wai’s In The Mood For Love 2001, a nine-minute expansion that was only ever screened in a 2001 Cannes masterclass, will be arriving in theaters alongside the 25th anniversary edition of his classic romance. Ahead of the release, beginning this Friday at NYC’s Film at Lincoln Center and IFC Center and July 4 at LA’s Laemmle Royal and Glendale, followed by an expansion, the first footage has now arrived courtesy of a new trailer.

And here’s the synopsis for In The Mood For Love 2001: “Initially conceived as one third of a triptych about food, In the Mood for Love was expanded into a stand-alone feature that won immediate recognition as a modern-day classic. Another third—intended as the “dessert,” as Wong Kar Wai has put it—was, until now, only screened during his masterclass at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Now available in wide release for the first time, In the Mood for Love 2001 demonstrates the director’s masterful ability to generate palpable atmosphere and striking characterizations on a miniature canvas—with In the Mood for Love stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung Man Yuk once again providing the sizzling chemistry— evoking the mystery of transient, unexpected connections in the modern city through his inimitable romantic touch.” +

[Rizor]

Has anyone seen the ITMFL 2001 short? Went to see it at Film at Lincoln Square yesterday. The short is cute. A lot of it was borrowed for My Blueberry Nights though.

[Show spoiler]Tony Leung Chiu Wai runs a convenience store. Maggie Cheung is wacky girl who visits regularly and eats cake at night. One night, she leaves her key for her boyfriend and Tony adds it to a jar full of keys. At another point, both Tony and Maggie have bloody noses. And there's the kiss as well. All recycled for My Blueberry Nights.