2046

Rating:

Art As Film

Main Cast: Tony Leung, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang

Director: Wong Kar-Wai

I could toss around long phrases about 2046, delving deep into what it “all means”, but I think the best way to watch it is with no real logic. It is designed to hit your emotions, casting aside coherence to float in the realm of fantasy wishes and broken dreams. And there I go being mystical.

But it’s hard not to be. The plot- such as it is- follows the life of a man named Chow Wo Man, living in Hong Kong in the late 1960’s. He is a writer for the newspapers to cover the rent of the hotel he is staying in, but his passion is a science-fiction novel named 2046. The elements in the fictional story are those he pulls from his own life, just turned around a bit and dramatized for effect. Not that he needs to add much drama, as his real life in the hotel (he very much enjoys the attention of the ladies) is exciting enough.

I can’t really summarize more than this. 2046 is a feast for your eyes, ears, and senses. Rich colors, dramatic situations, and all about set design and costumes. And the acting is top-notch, lending a subtle understatement to allow the richness (there I go again) of the cinema wash over you.