Happy Together

Recently the majority of director Wong Kar-wai's films is getting re released in theaters where I live so I was able get to experience In The Mood for Love in cinema which is a complete blast and today I got to experience yet another work of art from Kar-wai with his 1997 effort, Happy Together. A gay couple Lai (played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) and Po-Wing (played by Leslie Cheung) is stranded in Argentina, Lai focuses on working and earning enough money to return to China while Po-Wing chooses to aimlessly live in Argentina, both starts to find themselves drifting further apart because of their differences and the likely hood that they will not get back together becomes reality. In the Mood for Love was a really beautiful film that explores its characters with much care and depth and the same can be said with Happy Together. The way Wong Kar-wai pull you into the film and its story in a slow but tight way is just so mesmerising and effective to experience, yes it can be pretty slow and long sometimes but in terms of emotion this film provokes, its endlessly hypnotizing, that's the best way to describe the films of Wong Kar-wai, emotionally hypnotic and Wong brilliantly put that energy into film with his always amazing direction. Just like In The Mood for Love, this film looks stunning and beautiful throughout but Happy Together differentiate itself from In The Mood for Love with its gritter and unforgiving look and feel that adds a lot to the film's tone and story, it's not as eye catching and provoking of many deep emotions in every frame like In The Mood for Love but it's still great to look at and compliment the film greatly which I feel wouldn't be half as good without the performances. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Leslie Cheung plays the gay couple and personally I think their performances was quite good even if it did left a lot to be desired and explored. Like In The Mood For Love Tony Leung Chiu-Wai carries the film as the main lead well and I feel he demands the screen this time more then in the Mood, Leslie Cheung with the little screen time he had was quite memorable and energetic as Lai's lover Po-Wing. Both plays off each other fine but I did wish that we could have get more time with them especially before the events of the film but still they are pretty good, bringing a lot to the film and when they need to be at their emotional they are convincing and believable. The story itself is not bad with quite a few turns here and there and by the end its nicely paced and tightly packed, yes I did wish the film would have go on just a bit longer and explore just a few things further and like Wong's other films the ending did carry on just a bit to long but ultimately it's not a bad script and still offers us a great emotional journey through a troubled and lonely love of two troubled young men. Despite a few moments that I feel is a bit tasteless (especially at the beginning of the film) and tiny pacing and narrative problems, Happy Together is a great film nonetheless. Its gritty, sad and hopeless but still beautiful and haunting film that overall respects its themes and subjects with taste so If you want a great film that explores homosexuality or just troubled love in general then Happy Together is not a bad film and am sure it might connect with you more then it did for me personally. Wong Kar-wai's direction is amazing as always and the performances are pretty good. If you love Asian Cinema or World Cinema then it's safe to say Happy Together is your cup of tee.