in the Mood for Love

It's really quite a movie : great script, wonderfully paced, beautifully shot, brilliantly acted. Few people make movies the way Wong Kar Wai can, and just as few can do cinematography the way Christopher Doyle can.

There's a method to watching their movies - the room has got to be dark, there must not be any distractions, and you cannot go to the toilet for the entire movie. Exactly like a movie theatre - but without the whispering from movie goers who do not wish to make the effort to concentrate on the movie. Concentration is essential as WKW often lets the story unfold through things unsaid - not exactly everybody's cup of tea. But make the effort and you'll be rewarded.

And going to the toilet is a big no-no as Wong Kar Wai is a director who builds moods and walking away will just break that mood. Just check out the number of people who say that the smoke in this movie is brilliant : smoke from a kettle, smoke from a pot, smoke from a cigarette ...... smoke !

And just check out this scene from the movie where not a single word is uttered for 2 minutes :