Chungking Express

"If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries." -Cop 223

Chinese director Kar Wai Wong's Chungking Express tells the story of two Hong Kong cops both disconnected and lonely in the big city. The first story is about Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who has been dumped by his long time girlfriend and decides that by the end of the month he will either win back his girlfriend or lose her altogether. In the second, Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), recently dumped by his girlfriend, catches the attention of an eccentric waitress (Faye Wong) determined to help his find happiness again.

This beautifully shot, impressionistic film is not plot driven or even necessarily character driven. It is emotionally driven and so powerfully so that you get lost in the poetry of the camerawork and the depth and honesty of the characters. Loss, heartache, isolation, new love, and hope are all brilliantly portrayed with the help of the wonderfully understated but well-written script. With its skillful use of color and motion and its subtle storytelling ability, this poignant film will take your breath away. 5 stars.