2046
One of the pillars of Second Wave cinematography, Kar-Wai is a master of visuals and yearning. Most of his films are frequently characterized by romance and feelings, where most of the characters take every emotion as granted. The beauty of his work is both in the visually unique, highly stylized camera work, and in the shortage of dialogue, having more inner monologues to show both coping and personal struggles with different romantic encounters that the characters are put trough. When dialogue is used, we can notice that it’s almost never between the two lovers, as presence and actions give more importance to a relationship than actual words, and when two people understand each other, speaking is not mandatory. That is the beauty of Wong Kar-Wai’s work, as we feel only what the protagonist feels, giving us a window to his confusion and never ending doubt.
2046 is a film that I had in my watchlist for a while, always finding myself excuses to not watch it solely on the fact that I knew how much it would affect me. It is the sequel of In the Mood for Love (2000), showing the way our protagonist, Chow Mo Wan, played by one of the greatest Japanese actors, Tony Leung, is coping with the breakup between him and Su Li-zhen. He runs away, trying to find himself some opportunities as a journalist. Kar-Wai plays with time and space to make us confused wether the action takes place in Hong Kong, Singapore or his fictional sci-fi world, 2046, from the book that he decided to write. After the first Su Li-zhen refuses to go with Chow, he rents a room of a hotel. There, he meets another Su Li Zhen. Wong Kar-wai is exploring how people linger in our memories, how names and identities blur over time. Su Li-zhen becomes more of an idea or symbol of longing and loss than just a person. The repetition is intentional, it emphasizes how Chow Mo Wan can’t move on, and how he tries to relive or recreate past relationships. In terms of narrative continuity, the two are not the same person, but in a symbolic and emotional way, they are.
2046 confronts multiple themes, such as unfulfilled love, emotional distance, memory and time. It is seen as a sequel of In the Mood for Love, but no doubt that it can be a stand alone film. It isn’t about plot, it’s about the ache of memory and the impossibility of going back in time. If you let it wash over you, you can discover a slow, dreamy and devastating experience.
To finish off with a quote of an unknown identity: “If In the Mood for Love is about a love that almost happened, 2046 is about living in the ruins of that almost-love.”