In the Mood for Love (2000 - Hong Kong)

I can't remember now how many times I've seen In the mood for love.

"If there's an extra ticket, would you go with me?" Again, at missed connections.

i think it's a bigger tragedy than unrequited love.

A missed connection suggests that, a love could have flourished. both people want it, but for whichever reason, the connection never quite contacted.

Looking deeper into the last few scenes.

Mr. Chow, decides to leave for Singapore. Leaves a message for Mrs. Chan. "If there's an extra ticket, would you go with me?"

Mrs. Chan, goes to their old hotel room and finds she's too late.

3 years later in Singapore, Mrs. Chan goes into Mr. Chow's apartment, looks at the room and phones Mr. Chow.

She connects. He answers. She doesn't talk. 

Why? Why doesnt she answer? She spent that whole time looking for Mr. Chow.

We'll never know why.

Sayang!

3 years later, Mrs. Chan returns to their old apartment in Hong Kong. She looks through a window. She remembers the old times when she stayed in the place. Her eyes well up. 

Mr. Chow returns to his old apartment also in Hong Kong and finds the old landlord has gone. He gets informed that the landlady in the other apartment has left also, but a woman and a child is staying now. 

He stops at the door. and smiles. a brave smile.

Mr. Chow goes to Cambodia. Carves a hole, shares his secret and covers it with mud. 

This has probably the most identifiable characters in the Wong Kar Wai trilogy. 

You are on their side. You want them to be together. But it's wrong. and they know it's wrong. They do not want to end up like their spouses. 

And they succeed. They don't end up like their spouses. If they love, they lose. If they don't, they lose.

It's sad. now they're just strangers. 

Just memories of a time that has passed.

Beautiful storytelling, beautiful film.

Each shot is like a still of a photograph