In the Mood for Love Collection

Leslie Cheung

Andy Lau

Maggie Cheung

Carina Lau

Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau

Rebecca Pan

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Hung Ling-Ling

Angela Ponos

Danilo Antunes

Elena Lim So

Mei-Mei Hung

Nonong Talbo

Wong Kar-Wai

Christopher Doyle

Johnnie Kong

Anita Mui

Ronny Ching Siu-Lung

Joseph Chi Chiong Chavez

Terry Chan

Jeffrey Lau

Alan Tang

Leurona-Lombardo Óflyne

William Chang

Hai Kit-Wai

Patrick Tam

Rover Tang

Comfort Chan

Andrew Lau Wai-Keung

Stephen Tung Wai

Rosanna Ng Wai-San

Crime

Drama

Romance

阿飛正傳

In-Gear Film Production Co. Ltd.

Hong Kong

CinemaSerf

I suppose you might call the dashingly handsome "Yuddy" (Leslie Cheung) a bit of a Lothario. He has good looks and charm, and he sails through life thinking only of himself. His ideal existence comes to a bit of an abrupt halt, though, when his alcoholic courtesan of a mother "Rebecca" (Rebecca Pan) reveals to him in a drunken stupor that she isn't actually his mother at all. The rug has now been pulled from under his cocky feet and he now embarks on a rather self destructive journey to find out just who the real woman is. After an initial relationship with "Su Li-zhen" (Maggie Cheung) he finds himself hooked up with dancer "Mimi" (Carina Lau) but no nearer his ultimate goal. It's only when "Rebecca" decides to set off with her newest beau for a new life that she dispatches "Yuddy" to the Philippines where his answer lies. Meantime, "Su Li-zhen" has again found herself alone after her boyfriend decides to leave his police job and become a sailor. Is it all possible that the two might reconcile? Now, there is definitely something of the episodic - even soap opera - about this film. An unlikable and frankly selfish character seeking his own truth for his own reasons, but to be fair to the director and the writers, they manage to elevate it from the more tabloid and gradually develop the characters into creatures with whom we can, to an extent, empathise. There are façades all over the place, truth and honesty and trust are near, but in shadows - and the use of the dark, rainy, Hong Kong scenarios provides ample locations for all of those to hide - and from which to be discovered. Not my favourite of Wong Kar-wai's films - it is just a little predicable - but still, he packs lots into ninety minutes and the cast deliver well - especially Maggie Cheung - and I did enjoy it.