Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung get In the Mood.

Wong Kar-Wai returns with his most accessible work yet, In the Mood for Love . Chow Mo-Wan (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) and his wife move into their apartment on the same day that Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) and her husband move into the apartment next door. At first their relationship consists of passing pleasantries and mundane mahjong games with the neighbors but soon a sneaking suspicion bubbles its way to the surface. The increasing absence of their respective spouses arrives at the same time that Chow sees his wife carrying the same handbag as Mrs. Chan. Mrs. Chan, in turn, notices that her husband sports a tie similar to that worn by Chow. The two begin a clandestine friendship, and soon discover their desire turning from revenge against their spouses to a genuine yet impossible passion. 

This sounds like a typical relationship weepie, but this is Wong Kar-Wai that we’re dealing with. Wong's movies are about love, but are not necessarily love stories. The exquisite detail in which we witness the growing passion and passing frustrations of the would-be adulterers gives Wong ample chances to use weave his signature cinematic magic. Everything from the music, to the glorious cinematography (by Christopher Doyle and Lee Ping-Ban), to the sublime performances echoes the longing and inner emotion felt by the two protagonists. This is a film lover’s treat where every sidelong glance has a meaning and every wisp of cigarette smoke is given its own unique curl - in slow motion no less. Wong Kar-Wai has managed to make his most accomplished film by nixing his usual bag of tricks; the film features less voiceover, no time-shifting, and even less moving camera than his previous works. He lets the actors and the situations tell the story, and the result is wonderfully moving in its quiet restraint. (Kozo 2000)

20th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards
• Winner - Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai)
• Winner - Best Actress (Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk)
• Winner - Best Editing (William Cheung Suk-Ping)
• Winner - Best Art Direction (William Cheung Suk-Ping)
• Winner - Best Costume Design (William Cheung Suk-Ping)
• Nomination - Best Picture
• Nomination - Best Director (Wong Kar-Wai)
• Nomination - Best Supporting Actress (Rebecca Pan)
• Nomination - Best Screenplay (Wong Kar-Wai)
• Nomination - Best New Artist (Siu Ping-Lam)
• Nomination - Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle, Lee Ping-Ban)
• Nomination - Best Original Score (Michael Galasso)
7th Annual Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
• Best Director (Wong Kar-Wai)
• Best Recommended Film
Cannes Film Festival
• Technical Prize
• Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai)

image courtesy of Jet Tone Pictures