In the Mood for Love (2000)

This is another film that is probably at the top of my list of new all-time favourites. In the Mood for Love is a tale of adultery told through through the victims rather than the perpetrators. There are some thematic similarities between the plot of this film and the plot of Eyes Wide Shut. I believe watching them so close together did alter the way I watched In the Mood for Love. Wong Kar Wai, the writer/director, explains in a short “Making Of” documentary included in the Criterion release of the film the unorthodox writing strategy. The film was written as it was shot; chronologically. Wong says that he and the actors would write scenes and adapt them as the production went on shooting one day and then writing the next. That is, of course, not usually a viable option for most productions, especially given the star power of his two leads at the time, which leads me to an assumption, one that I think is fair. As the narrative plays out and these two victims of adultery become more involved with each other, they begin to act out different scenarios, each playing the roles of their spouses. I assume these scenes were heavily impacted by the irregular writing process and act as a solution to another oddity in the film. Throughout the entire runtime, there isn’t a single scene where we see the adulters; the story is concerned with the victims. Most accounts of adultery are about those committing the act and not those unwillingly suffering the consequences. In the Mood for Love uses these compelling scenes to show us what we’re used to seeing, the actions of the adulterous, from a completely different perspective, the assumptions of their spouses. All this has only been about a handful of scenes and, therefore, not much of a complete review. However, I think that this speaks to the beauty of this film. When I sat down to write this I had no plan in mind I just began writing, and I believe I could have made it this far talking about any aspect of In the Mood for Love, I just happened to hone in on this one. I think the production plan that Wong and his Cast implemented allowed for so much care in every single frame. I believe this is a masterwork, and I would urge anyone who hasn’t seen it correct that. It is well worth your time.