花樣年華 (M+ Cinema Programmes)

'In 1960, Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) first meets Yuddy (Leslie Cheung) at the snack bar of the South China Athletic Association. Then, in 1962, she meets Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) when they both move into apartments rented from Mrs. Suen (Rebecca Pan). The two soon discover that their spouses are having an affair, and when it becomes clear that their friendship is starting to blossom into something more, they are reluctant to begin an affair themselves. Set in the 1960s, 'In the Mood for Love' has a nostalgic yet repressive quality with its glamorous and calm visuals—a stark difference from the carefree and melancholic 'Days of Being Wild' (1990). The parallels represent the loss of love as a metaphor for the end of an era. But the biggest difference this time around is that it is a straightforward story about two people, told through the masterful pairing of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. Not only does this film feature electrifying performances from the two stars, but also eastern elements, such as the eye-catching traditional Chinese cheongsams. It is no wonder that this has become one of Wong Kar Wai’s most internationally acclaimed and most popular films. 1960年的蘇麗珍，在南華會遇上旭仔；1962年的蘇麗珍（張曼玉飾），在孫太（潘迪華飾）的出租唐樓遇上周慕雲（梁朝偉飾）。不久二人驚覺彼此的配偶竟然有婚外情，都想知道他們是怎樣開始的，角色扮演久了亦戲假情真，卻又不願接受自己也會出軌的現實。 同是六十年代背景，《花樣年華》以華麗靜態的美感渲染懷舊壓抑的氛圍，與《阿飛正傳》的跳脱飛揚空餘惆悵大異其趣。相近的是以兜轉情緣的錯失，隱喻一個時代的落幕。《花樣年華》這回最大的不同，是單刀直入細寫一個兩人的故事，由始至終是梁朝偉與張曼玉出神入化的對手戲。不但二人的明星魅力發揮得淋漓盡致，更有美輪美奐的東方色彩，如目不暇給的旗袍；能夠成為王家衛電影國際上最好評和最賣座的一部，絕非無因。