In the Mood for Love
Image: Universal Pictures
On Saturday 24th September, the Hyde Park Picture House screened Kar-Wai Wong’s classic film In the Mood for Love. Before the film started the audience had the opportunity to listen to Chris Berry, professor of film studies at Kings College London, and David Tse, an actor, writer and filmmaker, discuss the recent explosion of the Chinese film industry. Chris Berry provided a look into the history of film in mainland China and Hong Kong, explaining to the audience how In the Mood for Love presents the anxieties and tensions of Hong Kong in the late 1990s. David Tse’s contribution to the discussion was more emotional; he explained the importance of diversity in cinema to young aspiring artists. The questions fielded from the audience drew attention to the synthesis between east and west in new Chinese films, and highlighted the potential pit falls that come with trying to appeal to a global audience. Organised by the Leeds Confucius Institute, this discussion was a fascinating insight into Chinese cinematic art. Review: The plot of In the Mood for Love, a Bafta-nominated romantic drama, is essentially very simple. Coincidental meetings and unfaithful spouses cause a man and a woman living next door to each other to strike up a relationship. However, this relationship remains platonic as neither wishes to hypocritically ape their other halves.
love. The script is simplistic and repetitive, giving plenty of room for the directtor to play around, whilst still emphasising the importance of certain exchan nges. The acting too, almost matches the direction in its brilliance. Portrayed by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, the couple’s struggle is played with such unde erstated emotion that you immediately sympathise with these characters.
A key theme that director Wong Kar-Wai plays with to great effect is time. Often scenes are very short; only one or two lines before jumping forward in time to the next relevant point in the characters lives. Wong’s genius is to mix in occasional scenes of breathtaking stillness with the speed of the rest of the film, highlighting these brief moments of intensity. This technique is perfectly complimented by the choice of music - Nat King Cole singing Spanish jazz and Michael Galasso’s string-based score ooze hidden emotion and drip with desire.
What is clear from watching In the Mood for Love is that Wong Kar-Wa ai is a world class auteur, and I’m certain there are other Chinese filmmakers s of a similar standard whose work deserves to be viewed.
Our commendations do not stop there. There is such beauty in the colours that fill each frame. Golden yellows and pinky reds conjure up such strong feelings of passion and loneliness, it is impossible not to be drawn in to this tale of forbidden
Whether this film is the second greatest to be released (according to a BBC poll) is definitely debateable. What is the pure beauty of this picture. Wong has created a magnificently encapsulating human emotion and its s
in the 21st century s certain, however, is piece of art, a film fleeting splendour.
Xa Rodger and Dan Sareen
What‘s on in Leeds?
From apocalyptic theatre to big-name comedy, we give you the run down of all that‘s com ming up in Leeds... Theatre
Film
Dance
A Girl in School Uniform (Walks Into a Bar) @ West Yorkshire Playhouse - 8pm, 29th September
Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary Performance @ Cottage Road Cinema - 1:30pm, 16th October
Phoenix Dan nce Theatre @ Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre - 7:30pm, 28th September to 1st October
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe @ The Carriageworks - 7pm, from 29th September (2pm and 6pm on Saturdays)
The Man Who Fell to Earth / Creatures of the Night Hyde Park Picture House - 11pm, 1st October
William Rees-Arnold
Lost Bodies @ Live Art Bistro - 8:30pm, 7th October
Odourscope: A Pungent Performance of Buñuel L’Âge d’Or @ Hyde Park Picture House - 1:40pm, 2nd October
Fenia Kotsopoulou
British Lion Films
Terry Cryer