2046

This is the masterpiece that I expected and wanted In the Mood for Love to be. What a shocking and satisfying way to conclude my binge of Wong Kar-Wai's filmography. I wanted to save 2046 for the end of this journey because it was on the longer side and I knew it was somewhat sci-fi. I didn't know what I was really getting into. It's a tad confusing at first and I wasn't sure that this was one was going to mesh with me, but by the end I was in love with 2046. I was floored when I discovered while watching this that this is the finale of a trilogy with Days of Being Wild and In the Mood for Love. Days of Being Wild I was a tad bored and confused by, but it was beautiful and its depiction of love was undeniably impactful. In the Mood for Love didn't quite meet my astronomically high expectations given it's reputation on this app, but Kar-Wai succeeded in creating a riveting display of romance on screen that was visually stunning and emotionally moving. As soon as the pieces of 2046 started to be put together and the connecting tissue to the former two films was revealed I was glued to the screen. With In the Mood for Love fresh in my mind, vividly remembering the events, names, locations, and time periods, this was a very unique experience for me. It made the very grounded events and bittersweet ending of the last film even more impactful and provided a conclusion, not only to the two films mentioned but pretty much every release of Kar-Wai's. There's a piece of each picture in 2046 culminating in a satisfying celebration of his body of work creating what is essentially Wong Kar-Wai's The Avengers. 2046 explores... drumroll, please... love. I know, shocking from this director, but it's amazing how no matter how many times he talks about the same themes they never get boring. On top of that, he finds new avenues and methods of exploration. This film sheds some light on the side of romance that's one-sided. Not all relationships have happy endings and this director understands the importance of that. Tony Leung's character Chow returns from what I thought was a happy ending for him in In the Mood for Love. Turns out, he's divorced and a bit of a womanizer who's become obsessed by his time with Su Li-zhen, so much so that he references their "romance" in his sci-fi story 2046. It's hard to believe that this is the same Chow from ITMFL, but it becomes very clear that he has lived through the events of that film. His writing takes place in the future, 2046, and contains characters that escape to a place, also called 2046, where they can be rid of their problems and return to valued memories. We're taken on this trip inside his psyche - who he gains feelings for and how, the way he sees the people around him, and how his experience with Li-zhen has completely altered his love life. It's a fascinating and surprisingly epic display bouncing between the parallel events of his life and the story of 2046. Equally as surprising is the fact that this felt more grounded and relatable than ITMFL despite the inclusion of androids and futuristic trains on screen. Kar-Wai gets to flex his mastery in visual style by taking it to unfamiliar territory. This is a contender for his best looking film, Happy Together providing strong competition. The colors are more vibrant and beautiful than ever before which I thought would be impossible. Even his shot composition has improved since he somehow manages to make every shot feel significant and edited down to perfection. I'm surprised at how much I was able to pick up on after a single viewing, but I can tell this is one that gets even better after some thought and repeated watches over time. This is definitely an all-timer for me. I'm very pleased with my Wong Kar-Wai journey. List: *Favorite Films & 2025 Goals* Last Review: *One Battle After Another*