movie review: Happy Together
After missing my chance at UP for this film, well, God has plans for me. A classmate lends me the DVD, and now comes my personal review.
Lai Yu-Fai and Ho Po-wing are gay lovers struggling the difficulties of life in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The relationship was shaky and eventually leads to break-up. The hard-working Fai, earns his leaving as a host in a tango bar while Po-wing becomes a prostitute. Fai couldnÂ’t care less about the other when faith has it that they cross paths again and gradually rebuilt the relationship. But as one craves for freedom and discontentment, separation was the best solution.
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai (Chungking Express, Fallen Angles) togther with Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle, “Happy Together” is a cinema masterpiece. With the cinematography alone, the film is almost breath taking. From my point of view, this is an art film at its best. Watch a movie and watch art move before your eyes. The black and white as well as the moving camera angles that shift from one character to another delivered a presentation of reality in the setting. The constant slow motion emphasized the touching moments in the story of the characters. The exotic background music delivers the audience to Buenos Aires and one can take a peek at the culture of Argentina through this film.
As for the actors, I LOVE Tony Leung (Fai). IÂ’ve seen several movies of his including Hero, 2046, In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affairs and some comedy ones from Star Mandarin chanel. His flexibility as an actor makes him so remarkable. And portraying a serious, yet sensitive character as Fai, took him a step further (though I think he was younger when he made this). Playing as FaiÂ’s lover, Leslie Cheung compliments his co-actorÂ’s effort playing a sensitive role. Po-wingÂ’s immature pleads and sweet approach to Fai, was greatly played by Leslie Cheung. As two of HongkongÂ’s top super stars, they were able to make these characters alive for the film. Kissing and bed scenes are not stiff, they pulled it through propely and convincingly.
“Happy Together” shows how love can be so desperate in a world you are not certain that you should be in. Man lives to find love and hold to that love so tight that flaws in the relationship starts to surface. The melancholic atmosphere of the movie is common amongst Hongkong films yet is one of those that will make you sigh in the end of the movie. Such heavy feelings and loneliness embraced in all elements but doesn’t persuade the viewers to love, but look for love and be brave to face it, no matter how much it hurts.
Lai Yu-Fai and Ho Po-wing are gay lovers struggling the difficulties of life in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The relationship was shaky and eventually leads to break-up. The hard-working Fai, earns his leaving as a host in a tango bar while Po-wing becomes a prostitute. Fai couldnÂ’t care less about the other when faith has it that they cross paths again and gradually rebuilt the relationship. But as one craves for freedom and discontentment, separation was the best solution.
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai (Chungking Express, Fallen Angles) togther with Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle, “Happy Together” is a cinema masterpiece. With the cinematography alone, the film is almost breath taking. From my point of view, this is an art film at its best. Watch a movie and watch art move before your eyes. The black and white as well as the moving camera angles that shift from one character to another delivered a presentation of reality in the setting. The constant slow motion emphasized the touching moments in the story of the characters. The exotic background music delivers the audience to Buenos Aires and one can take a peek at the culture of Argentina through this film.
As for the actors, I LOVE Tony Leung (Fai). IÂ’ve seen several movies of his including Hero, 2046, In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affairs and some comedy ones from Star Mandarin chanel. His flexibility as an actor makes him so remarkable. And portraying a serious, yet sensitive character as Fai, took him a step further (though I think he was younger when he made this). Playing as FaiÂ’s lover, Leslie Cheung compliments his co-actorÂ’s effort playing a sensitive role. Po-wingÂ’s immature pleads and sweet approach to Fai, was greatly played by Leslie Cheung. As two of HongkongÂ’s top super stars, they were able to make these characters alive for the film. Kissing and bed scenes are not stiff, they pulled it through propely and convincingly.
“Happy Together” shows how love can be so desperate in a world you are not certain that you should be in. Man lives to find love and hold to that love so tight that flaws in the relationship starts to surface. The melancholic atmosphere of the movie is common amongst Hongkong films yet is one of those that will make you sigh in the end of the movie. Such heavy feelings and loneliness embraced in all elements but doesn’t persuade the viewers to love, but look for love and be brave to face it, no matter how much it hurts.
Page created: July 8th 2005 03:17 PM