‘In the Mood for Love’ takes place in the turbulent 1960s in Hong Kong. Hong Kong in that unique period was the perfect vessel for ‘In the Mood for Love’. What would happen if the story took place in 2021 Hong Kong, and how would the characteristics of location as a vessel change?
In the 1960s, Hong Kong was in a long period of instability. The drought caused continuous water production in Hong Kong, and the Revolution in mainland China caused the June 7 riots in Hong Kong, which resulted in severe injuries and deaths. Still, the Hong Kong economy grew steadily despite the instability. This story, full of contradictions, is carried in an urbanized environment.
Most of Wong Kar-wai’s films shot in Hong Kong, a crowded and busy city. Hong Kong has completed its urbanization, a state where people can live without “community,” which means they barely need to deal with their neighbors to live. In the Mood for Love has more of a community sense than other films. Such a story does not seem to be able to be carried in 21st century Hong Kong.
But nowadays, Hong Kong’s popular dramas, the series of comedies shown on TVB Jade at 8 p.m., still emphasize the concept of community and have been at the top of the ratings many times in recent years. It’s an interesting phenomenon that is completely divorced from the current situation in Hong Kong. Perhaps viewers in 2000 watching ‘In the Mood for Love’ and viewers in 2021 will not feel too far removed from the concept of community.
The concept of community in ‘In the Mood for Love’ is mainly reflected in the gossip and the emphasis on their ambiguous relationship. It reminds me of “Age of innocent” Newland falls in love with Ellen, who is separated from her husband, and they are forced to separate because of the views of the people around. It’s no different now, with all the scandalous gossip about the celebrity nouveau riche. But Chow Mo-wan and Su Li Zhen are just ordinary people. They will be tolerated now.
‘if I have one more ticket, would you like to go with me?” That era meant never seeing each other again. The sense would be reduced in the present.
If we plan to remake the film to take place in Hong Kong, 2021 (assuming no pandemic), it’s reasonable to weaken the concept of community. Lost in Translation is an example of this. It could be described as a 21st century ‘In the Mood for Love.’
The main character is Chow Mo-wan, a newspaper editor, which is rare nowadays, except for older people who read the news on the Internet. The subtle connections between the characters in Wong Kar-wai’s films seem to have lost much of their beauty in the 21st century, where the Internet is advanced.
The 1960s is not far engouh. 1950s era Kowloon Walled City, as an element. ‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995) has also utilized ‘Blade Runner: The Final Cut,’ ‘Dredd,’ ‘The Fifth.’Christopher Nolan, in the first part of his “Batman Begins” trilogy, the city of Gotham, is a direct reference to the design of the Kowloon Walled City. In the Mood for Love was shot in 2000. It was a cultural appropriation of 1960s Hong Kong in the year 2000. But 40 years is not far enough. How would it be if it were now, 60 years later?
For Western audiences, the cheongsam inside the movie is the most iconic Eastern element. For the time movie’s release and now. For Hong Kong audiences, if the movie was made in the 1960s, maybe they would think it was a lovely dress. 2000 Hong Kong is not the same as 1960 Hong Kong, and 2021 is even much different. Nowadays, audiences will refer to cheongsam as “traditional costume”. If a director were to remake “In the Mood for Love,” the idea of using the cheongsam as “traditional dress” would not be beneficial to the movie. In 2021, “In the Mood for Love” suppose to sound like “Japanese jazz.
Audiences are allowed to redefine movies. To remake a film from the past is to redefine it. Infernal Affairs, set in Hong Kong, and The Departed, set in the United States, are good examples. ‘In the Mood for Love’, the elements of it suppose to be seen as another culture, and people living in Hong Kong in 2021 suppose to see Hong Kong in the 1960s as another country.
Location is the vessel that carries the story. Most of Wong Kar-wai’s films take place in completed urbanized cities. ‘In the Mood for Love’ is unique in that it took place in the 1960s when Hong Kong was beginning to urbanize. The concept of community is now weakened compared to the 1960s. The film was released in 2000, viewing at elements in the 1960s from a distance, and now 20 years later, from an even greater distance. ‘In the Mood for Love,’ in 2021, is supposed to be viewed at a greater distance.
In the 1960s, Hong Kong was in a long period of instability. The drought caused continuous water production in Hong Kong, and the Revolution in mainland China caused the June 7 riots in Hong Kong, which resulted in severe injuries and deaths. Still, the Hong Kong economy grew steadily despite the instability. This story, full of contradictions, is carried in an urbanized environment.
Most of Wong Kar-wai’s films shot in Hong Kong, a crowded and busy city. Hong Kong has completed its urbanization, a state where people can live without “community,” which means they barely need to deal with their neighbors to live. In the Mood for Love has more of a community sense than other films. Such a story does not seem to be able to be carried in 21st century Hong Kong.
But nowadays, Hong Kong’s popular dramas, the series of comedies shown on TVB Jade at 8 p.m., still emphasize the concept of community and have been at the top of the ratings many times in recent years. It’s an interesting phenomenon that is completely divorced from the current situation in Hong Kong. Perhaps viewers in 2000 watching ‘In the Mood for Love’ and viewers in 2021 will not feel too far removed from the concept of community.
The concept of community in ‘In the Mood for Love’ is mainly reflected in the gossip and the emphasis on their ambiguous relationship. It reminds me of “Age of innocent” Newland falls in love with Ellen, who is separated from her husband, and they are forced to separate because of the views of the people around. It’s no different now, with all the scandalous gossip about the celebrity nouveau riche. But Chow Mo-wan and Su Li Zhen are just ordinary people. They will be tolerated now.
‘if I have one more ticket, would you like to go with me?” That era meant never seeing each other again. The sense would be reduced in the present.
If we plan to remake the film to take place in Hong Kong, 2021 (assuming no pandemic), it’s reasonable to weaken the concept of community. Lost in Translation is an example of this. It could be described as a 21st century ‘In the Mood for Love.’
The main character is Chow Mo-wan, a newspaper editor, which is rare nowadays, except for older people who read the news on the Internet. The subtle connections between the characters in Wong Kar-wai’s films seem to have lost much of their beauty in the 21st century, where the Internet is advanced.
The 1960s is not far engouh. 1950s era Kowloon Walled City, as an element. ‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995) has also utilized ‘Blade Runner: The Final Cut,’ ‘Dredd,’ ‘The Fifth.’Christopher Nolan, in the first part of his “Batman Begins” trilogy, the city of Gotham, is a direct reference to the design of the Kowloon Walled City. In the Mood for Love was shot in 2000. It was a cultural appropriation of 1960s Hong Kong in the year 2000. But 40 years is not far enough. How would it be if it were now, 60 years later?
For Western audiences, the cheongsam inside the movie is the most iconic Eastern element. For the time movie’s release and now. For Hong Kong audiences, if the movie was made in the 1960s, maybe they would think it was a lovely dress. 2000 Hong Kong is not the same as 1960 Hong Kong, and 2021 is even much different. Nowadays, audiences will refer to cheongsam as “traditional costume”. If a director were to remake “In the Mood for Love,” the idea of using the cheongsam as “traditional dress” would not be beneficial to the movie. In 2021, “In the Mood for Love” suppose to sound like “Japanese jazz.
Audiences are allowed to redefine movies. To remake a film from the past is to redefine it. Infernal Affairs, set in Hong Kong, and The Departed, set in the United States, are good examples. ‘In the Mood for Love’, the elements of it suppose to be seen as another culture, and people living in Hong Kong in 2021 suppose to see Hong Kong in the 1960s as another country.
Location is the vessel that carries the story. Most of Wong Kar-wai’s films take place in completed urbanized cities. ‘In the Mood for Love’ is unique in that it took place in the 1960s when Hong Kong was beginning to urbanize. The concept of community is now weakened compared to the 1960s. The film was released in 2000, viewing at elements in the 1960s from a distance, and now 20 years later, from an even greater distance. ‘In the Mood for Love,’ in 2021, is supposed to be viewed at a greater distance.
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