First premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, Wong Kar-wai’s ‘In The Mood For Love’ has become an era-defining masterpiece of cinema. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this visual poem from the Hong Kong auteur continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Now, in honour of the movie’s 25th anniversary, a new 4K remastered cut – featuring nine minutes and nine seconds of unseen footage (touted as the ‘longest cut in history’) – is coming to Hong Kong’s Emperor Cinemas for an extended run. A film begging to be experienced in cinemas, this new restoration of the haunted love story showcases multiple Hong Kong legends (Wong Kar-wai, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, more) at the top of their game.
Read More: ‘Mickey 17’ Gives Us The RPattz We Need & The RPattz We Deserve
‘I Didn’t Think You’d Fall In Love With Me…’
While only a fews years removed from the infamously green-hued 4K restoration that left fans and critics alike divided, the 25th anniversary remaster of ‘In The Mood For Love’ promises an unforgettable experience – even for viewers on their hundredth rewatch. While the movie’s narrative and performances are without a doubt exceptional, it’s impossible to divorce ‘In The Mood For Love’s’ praise from the power of its visual aesthetic.
Made possible through Wong’s legendary partnership with cinematographer Christopher Doyle, the intimate collection of red-soaked lighting and restrained yet emotional camerawork brings you right into the ache, longing, and regret shared by Chow (Tony Leung) and Su (Maggie Cheung). To watch this 4K version in cinemas is to surrender to the film’s world – its sound, light and visual language resonating with renewed impact.
‘Feelings Can Creep Up Just Like That…’
The recurring framing of Chow and Su in windows, mirrors and doors draws attention to the isolation and constraints of these characters – making you feel very much like a voyeur intruding on intensely private moments. Being in a movie theatre only amplifies this feeling, as the emotionally charged encounters between Chow and Su feel steamier and more intimate than ever. Every wisp of cigarette smoke or looming office clock in Doyle’s static shots lets you eagerly consume every element more easily – giving you a more open watching experience.
Since Wong Kar-wai notoriously often shoots enough footage to make two complete films, the opportunity to see some of this unused footage is always welcome. As this 25th anniversary ‘extended cut’ promises to be the longest-ever version of ‘In The Mood For Love,’ it’s inevitable that you’re left a bit disappointed by what wasn’t included. While the many extra hotel scenes that are only available via behind-the-scenes footage and photo stills (including the beloved dance sequence) don’t make the cut, what does is an interesting ‘short film’ set in a completely different time period.
‘If There’s An Extra Ticket… Would You Go With Me?’
For these anniversary screenings, the main thing to remember is to stay after the credits. A similarly-themed short that takes place in the year 2001 sees Leung as a mustachioed convenience store owner who sees the unlucky-in-love Cheung often come in for food, smokes, or even a nap. This new footage is presumably the elusive ‘In The Mood For Love 2001’ that, until now, had only been screened live once by Wong at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
‘In The Mood For Love 2001’ is particularly interesting to see as a companion to the feature film due to the fact that it was created as part of an unfulfilled series of food-themed shorts that ultimately inspired the main feature. In the interview Wong gave at 2001 Cannes, he explains how the ‘main course’ of this series kept extending until it became ‘In The Mood For Love’ while this now-25th anniversary bonus footage is meant to be the ‘dessert.’ While more substantial footage from the main feature isn’t included in this new cut, viewers will instead be able to get a glimpse into Wong’s creative process and roads not taken.
Tickets for ‘In the Mood for Love’ 25th Anniversary Special Edition screenings are now available at all Emperor Cinemas locations and online.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
