In the mood for Love (2000)

Cast : Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung

Plot and Storyline:

In the Mood for love(2000) is a Chinese Romantic drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film is set is 1960s Hong Kong, a conservative society which is on the verge of change. The Heroine - Mrs Chow( played by Maggie Cheung) moves into a crowded apartment in Hongkong where she gets acquainted with Mr Chan( played by Tony Leung), the protagonist of the film. Eventhough they live in a crowded apartment with sounds of the neighbours all the time they seem to be often alone in their apartment. In the first few scenes of the film we come to know that both the lead's marriage is not working out and often they spend their time alone. This regular encounters starts a kind of relationship between Mrs Chow and Mr Chan, which later develops into a complicated romance, what happens to them at the end is the remainder of the film.

What is striking different in "In the Mood for love" is the way it has been made and the background score which plays a very important role in the film, In most part of the film there is simple dialogue and the background noise but where the Protagonist and the Heroin meet all fades a way and there is this typical background score which repeats itself through out the film. The narrative is quite unique often the scene is focused at a distance and we hear the dialogue from a distance.

The relationship between Mrs Chow and Mr Chan is the most intriguing pat of the film, Both of them find out that their better halves are having an affair and so they don't want to do the same. Though they want to keep their relationship to the level of acquaintances it is not so actually, their desperation could be seen in their eyes and each of them want to sleep with the other one but none has the will to do it. It is in the scenes where they rehearse a dialogue with their spouse where their actual feelings in revealed - when Mrs Chow tells that she cannot take it and cries endlessly in Mr Chan's shoulders. The conservativeness of the Chinese is beautifully portrayed in film, the ways both the protagonist and the Heroin use to secretly have their meetings.

The film is very convincing with reality in many ways. Mr Chan and Mrs Chow meet for the last time and Mr Chan tells his love  and tells her that it would not work out anyway and then film moves to the instances in their future where both of them tries to meet or call the other but never does it. It makes us question the level " chance" place in their lives and the directors intentions n the scenes.
In the Mood for love is a very different romantic film, The dialogues and the performances of the leeds should be given a special mention. Refreshing and though it does not end well it is worth the watch