Starring Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung, Rebecca Cheung. Written and directed by Wong Kar-Wai. Mrs. Chan (Cheung) is looking for a room for herself and her husband and finds one in a crowded, decaying apartment building in 1962 Hong Kong. Mr. Chow just misses getting that room for him and his wife, and settles for a bedroom next door. Mrs. Chan's husband travels on business for week's at a time, leaving her to see movies, eat alone and read her martial arts serials. She works for her boss Mr. Ho at a travel agency. Mr. Chow works at a publishing company. Mrs. Chow is often away, increasingly staying out late working and occasionally taking business trips herself. Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan often bump into each other, walking the crowded halls of their building and seeing each other at the local noodle shop. Both come to the realization their spouses are having affairs, and meet to discuss their situation. They continue to see each other, but as Mrs. Chan says, they aren't going to be like their spouses, scrupulously avoiding sex. They sneak around, trying to avoid the gossipy neighbours, even though they never consummate their relationship. Mr. Chow begins writing serials and Mrs. Chan joins him in a new room he rents. But soon, there comes a point where Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan must decide their futures. As the above summary suggests, not a lot happens, and we spend 90 minutes watching the two characters not having an affair. Both characters, and we the audience, are continually frustrated at the two starting and stopping over and over again their romantic impulses. The movie is beautifully shot, with vibrant reds and yellows flickering in the hazy brown burnished backgrounds. The film moves at a very relaxed pace, and many times it just screams ART FILM! Lots of shots of cigarette smoke lazily drifting around a dark room, heavy rain pounding the cement, characters standing and sitting around silently staring. Often we see slow-motion vistas of hands touching, and clasps broken. An interesting facet of the film is the illumination of male-female relationships in traditional Hong Kong. Part of Mrs. Chan's duties as secretary is scheduling personal events for Mr. Ho, including buying gifts and booking restaurant reservations for him and his mistress. She does so matter-of-factly, despite the pain and loneliness her husband's infidelity is causing her. And her landlady gently and not so subtly suggests Mrs. Chan has been coming home late too often, and should work on having her husband take fewer business trips. In other words, hubby may be out playing around, but it is the wife's duty to take it and encourage him to be home, as if his affairs are mostly her fault for not taking proper care of him. I suppose, that is not too different from the attitudes prevalent in North America in the early 60's. Both Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow are principled, upstanding people who worry what other's think of them, and are too embarrassed to tell anyone else of their spouses affairs. Both actors are excellent. One can appreciate Maggie Cheung's range after seeing her as a movie star in Irma Vep and the street girl in The Chinese Box and now as a very controlled, proper lady who even dresses up to go out to buy noodles. Tony Leung is equally strong as the kind-hearted husband continually making excuses for his wayward wife. While very-well made and beautifully performed, this type of art film is not exactly my personal cup-of-tea, although I did enjoy watching both actors. For arthouse lovers only. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page