2046 (Hong Kong, 2004)


This is the second part of “In The Mood For Love”. Director Wong Kar Wai actually shot both movies simultaneously. Why this one comes out four years later is a mystery to me, but this second part, 2046, has not been released yet. It was only shown at the Cannes Festival in 2004, where it received very good critics. Much expectation had also been created around this movie, especially since Wong Kar Wai barely finished the editing of the film to show it in Cannes, almost missing the festival.

Again, Mr. Chow comes back from Singapur after working as a journalist. He meets several prostitutes who also live in his apartment. The interesting twist here is, Mr. Chow is writing a novel about a train leaving now and then for 2046. Everyone thinks he is writing about the future, when in fact he is writing about his own past. We have scenes of Mr. Chow’s past life, combined with scenes from his novel. He soon falls in love with her apartment neighbours and with beautiful female androids that come out of his novel. What is real and what is fiction? That is for the audience to figure out. The music and strong vibrant colors used in most scenes is impressive. It sets the right mood for an original romantic drama.