Ah fei zing zyun (Days of Being Wild) (1990)

Director: Wong Kar Wai
Writers:   Jeffrey Lau, Wong Kar Wai
Cast:       Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Language: Cantonese

Set in 1960, the film centres on Yuddy, who learns from the drunken ex-prostitute who raised him that she is not his real mother. This provokes him to look for his real mother even as he goes through fleeting relationships with several women causing emotional pain to them. One cannot say for sure whether his attitude towards women were shaped up even before him learning about his adoption. It could well be the case with him being raised by an ex-prostitute. The way he is leading his life is summed up by the following quote from the film:

"I've heard that there's a kind of bird without legs that can only fly and fly, and sleep in the wind when it is tired. The bird only lands once in its life... that's when it dies. "

By the end of the film when he is close to death he rephrases it by saying that the bird thought it had no legs which indicates that he was conscious about the self destructive path he was taking. 

The film primarily revolves around the love triangle between the characters played by Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung and Andy Lau, who all were the stars of Hong Kong cinema in those days. Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) is smitten by Yuddy (Leslie Cheung) but when she confronts him about moving in with him, he rejects her by saying that he is not the marrying type and cares for only his happiness. She finds solace in the company of a cop who really wants to be a sailor played by Andy Lau. He falls for her based on their brief encounter but she never realizes it and they never meet again. He leaves his job and decides to become a sailor and he has a chance encounter with Yuddy in Philippines. Till that point I thought the film was just a goodish film but the last 15 minutes of the film just elevates it into greatness.

Film marked the first collaboration between Wong Kar Wai and his frequent DoP collaborator Christopher Doyle. But it is not shot in the trademark style of theirs. It was also a pioneering film for Hing Kong film industry by bringing in elements of emotional ambiguity and a new wave arty style. It even provoked a spoof called 'Days of Being Dumb' starring Tony Leung.

Rating: 4.5/5
 
 

Duo luo tian shi (Fallen Angels) (1995)

Director: Wong Kar Wai
Writer:    Wong Kar Wai
Cast:        Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Language: Cantonese

Like Chungking Express, film is divided into two story lines but both meshed together instead of one being followed by the other like in the former film. One of them tells the story of a  professional killer (Leon Lai) who has a lady business partner who basically looks after his room in Chungking Mansions when he is away on assignments. They have had their partnership for 155 weeks without meeting each other. The second storyline follows the activities of He Zhiwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who breaks into closed down shops in the middle of the night and pretend to be running those businesses. He proclaims through narration that he is incapable of speaking after eating expired pineapples (Chungking reference) at the age of five. Three ladies are primarily involved in their lives and film follows their abstract relationships.

The exquisitely flowing cinematography from Christopher Doyle is even more amped up when compared with Chungking Express and the characters even more abstract and weird. When I first watched it I thought it was just a good film but not nearly as good as Wong Kar Wai's other great works. That is a mistake one could make if you are focusing too much on plot and not soaking in the stunning imagery and atmosphere of the film. I have learned to not look too much into the plot of these films and this is essential when you are watching Wong Kar Wai films. The characters are very weird and dreamy but that sits very well with the way the film is shot. I have never enjoyed John Woo's famous shoot them up scenes where the protagonist armed with two guns takes on a large group of armed bad men in a crowded setting mainly because we are meant to take it seriously. But similar scenes in Fallen Angels are so enjoyable because of the nature of the characters who are wielding these double guns. 

Overall it a great Wong Kar Wai experience but for people who are not familiar with his work it might be better to start watching some of his other works before coming to this. In terms of balance 'Chungking Express' 'Happy Together' and 'In the mood for love' are his best works, but 2046 and Fallen Angels are still great films nevertheless. I am also gonna revisit 'Days of Being Wild' soon.

Rating: 4/5

2046 (2004)

Director: Wong Kar Wai
Writer:   Wong Kar Wai
Cast:      Tony Leung, Chiu Wai, Ziyi Zhang, Faye Wong
Language: Cantonese
The film is a loose sequel to Wong Kar Wai's previous films 'The Days of Being Wild' and 'In the Mood for Love'. It follows the aftermath of Chow Mo-wan's unconsummated affairs with Su Li-Zhen in 1960s Hong Kong and also includes some science fiction elements.

Its a challenging watch and the other two films are essential to make head and tails about it. Stunning performance from Ziyi Zhang. Overall a good film that would require multiple viewings.

Rating: 4/5

Fa yeung nin wa (In the Mood for Love) (2000)

Director: Wong Kar Wai
Writer:    Wong Kar Wai
Cast:      Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung
A man and woman move in to neighboring Hong Kong apartments and form a bond when they suspect their spouses of extra-marital activities.

Was my second viewing of the film after a long time. No one makes romance films like Wong Kar Wai.

Rating: 5/5

Chung Hing sam lam (Chungking Express) (1994)

Director: Wong Kar Wai
Writer:   Wong Kar Wai
Cast:      Brigitte Kin, Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Faye Wong
Wong Kar Wai's film about two love-struck cops filmed in impressionistic splashes of motion and colour.

The film was made when Wong Kar Wai decided to take a break from the tiring production of his film 'Ashes of Time'. Both the films came out almost simultaneously. Was seeing it for the 4th time I think and is in my opinion Wong Kar Wai's best film till date. Cinematography by Christopher Doyle is amazing.

Rating: 5/5

Chun gwong cha sit (Happy Together) (1997)

Director:    Wong Kar Wai
Writer:       Wong Kar Wai
Cast:          Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Leslie Cheung, Chen Chang
Langauage: Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentinafrom Hong Kong and take to road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift.

As is usual with Wong Kar Wai films, visuals are stunning. Cinematography is done by his usual collaborator Christopher Doyle. Film starts off as black and white and become more colorful as it goes on. The usual themes for Wai like loneliness and melancholia are there for this film as well. Its very funny as well.

Rating: 5/5

Yut doi jung si (The Grandmasters) (2012)

Director:  Wong Kar Wai
Writers:   Wong Kar Wai
Language: Cantonese/Mandarin
Wong Kar Wai is filming 'The Grandmasters' which is set for release next year. The film stars Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.Its the story of martial arts master Ip Man, who trained Bruce Lee.