In the Mood for Love

PG

Now Playing

1h 37m

Romance

Drama

List

92%

187 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1962, journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his wife move into a Hong Kong apartment, but Chow's spouse is often away on business. Before long, the lonely Chow makes the acquaintance of the alluring Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk), whose own significant other also seems preoccupied with work. As the two friends realize their respective partners are cheating on them, they begin to fall for one another; however, neither wants to stoop to the level of the unfaithful spouses.

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Critics Consensus

An exquisitely shot showcase for Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung that marks a somber evolution of Wong Kar-wai's chic style, In the Mood for Love is a tantric tease that's liable to break your heart.

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Christopher H

Restraint and resistance have never been captured so beautifully on film. The stolen glances and slight brushes of hand - what isn't said speaks the loudest. Gut-wrenching at a time when 1960s social mores forced an ideal that silence is golden. Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Wong Kar-wai - a definitive triumvirate, shine as seen through the lens of Christopher Doyle's masterful cinematography.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/24

Full Review

Herbert T

Beautiful movie, every second and frame of it is a piece of art, amazing characters and dynamic, a complete must watch, please just watch it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

matthieu r

A masterwork. A melancholic movie full of unspoken words. Closed space creates more intimacy with the characters and keeps the focus on the relationship while keeping enough space to think. The aesthetic of the movie is great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Rich S

It's a magnificent ballet of movement through time and space. But no amount of style, fashion and robust color can hide the pain of two jilted spouses. This is Wong Kar-Wai's commentary of marriage and being trapped in it by your cultural traditions and religious beliefs.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

Anna K

I love Wong Kar Wai's art, so I watched this film having very high expectations. Unfortunately for me, I didn't understand the plot during watching, so I had to read about it afterwards, then everything made sense X) but it's a very beautiful movie with unique cinematography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

Ashley N

I was really hoping this movie would be more erotic given the reviews but I found it overall rather dry and frustrating.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

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Kar-Wai Wong

Director

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Chow Mo-wan

Maggie Cheung

Su Li-zhen

Kelly Lai Chen

Mr. Ho

Rebecca Pan

Mrs. Suen

Ping Lam Siu

Ah Ping

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Elvis Mitchell

New York Times

In the Mood for Love is probably the most breathtakingly gorgeous film of the year, dizzy with a nose-against-the-glass romantic spirit that has been missing from the cinema forever.

Jul 17, 2023

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

In the Mood for Love excites us with words not spoken, passions not played out. A mood story more than a love story, it's all about sustaining a state of exquisite melancholy in the face of desire.

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

If it is possible to find the erotic register of despair, or the romantic dimension of ennui, then Wong Kar-wai certainly achieves it in his new film.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Maggie and Tony live in illusion, painfully prolonged out of fear of dying from disappointment. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 17, 2023

Full Review

Sarah Kerr

Vogue

In the Mood's exquisite refinement adds a new hue to Wong's rainbow while doing no harm to his reputation as the reigning king of pure, unfiltered cinematic cool.

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

Gary Chun

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wong Kar-wai's graceful cinematic poem is one that should be savored.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 15, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1962, journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his wife move into a Hong Kong apartment, but Chow's spouse is often away on business. Before long, the lonely Chow makes the acquaintance of the alluring Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk), whose own significant other also seems preoccupied with work. As the two friends realize their respective partners are cheating on them, they begin to fall for one another; however, neither wants to stoop to the level of the unfaithful spouses.

Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Screenwriter: Kar-Wai Wong
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: Block 2 Pictures, Paradis Film, Jet Tone Productions
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Brief Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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