FOOD ON FILM: CHUNGKING EXPRESS (review)

CHUNGKING EXPRESS 
Written and Directed by Wong Kar-wai
Starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, Brigitte Lin, and Faye Wong

Cop 663: Plenty of choice in men, just like food. 

This past Wednesday night, TIFF launched the third season of the highly successful Food on Film subscription series. Hosted by CBC’s Metro Morning host, Matt Galloway, the series connects culinary experts with film lovers to produce an insightful celebration of a variety of cuisine in cinema. Each month, a different food expert, ranging from award-winning chefs to notable authors, will highlight an acclaimed “foodie” film and then discuss its influence on their culinary work. Sponsored by the popular Momofuku restaurant, it is quite fitting that the first film featured in the series is Wong Kar-wai’s timeless classic, CHUNGKING EXPRESS.

As a passionate advocate of Wong Kar-wai’s IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, I am embarrassed to admit that I only just recently watched his beloved CHUNGKING EXPRESS for the first time.  In a way, I’m glad I only just saw it recently though. After immersing myself in the films of director Godard (yet another cinematic blind spot of mine) during TIFF’s recent retrospective of his early work, I could fully appreciate Kar-wai’s loving tribute to the auteur. The female leads in CHUNGKING EXPRESS worship at the altar of American pop culture, with the mysterious female blonde in the first portion of the film vamping like the celebrated femme fatales in early gangster films, while Faye (the female lead in the second portion of the film) aches for ‘California Dreamin’, both the song and the locale. Seeing the film later in life has also opened my eyes to the cavalcade of directors who owe a gratitude to Wong Kar-wai, from Quentin Tarantino (whose Rolling Thunder company presents the film) to Xavier Dolan (which can especially be seen in his under appreciated Kar-wai tribute, HEARTBEATS).

The film is presented in two parts. The first portion focuses on Cop 223, He Qiwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who spends his evenings pining for his ex-girlfriend. After she ends their five year relationship, he hungers for another intimate connection. Much like the beginning of “Romeo and Juliet”, he meets a mysterious woman (Brigitte Lin) who causes him to rethink his views on love and intimacy in one fateful evening. In the second portion of the film, another handsome policeman, Cop 663 (Kar-wai regular, Tony Leung) crosses serendipitous paths with snack shop worker Faye (Faye Wong). Unbeknownst to him, she routinely slinks into his apartment while he works and tidies the place. Neither story quite overlap, yet both policemen frequent the same pivotal snack bar, Midnight Express.

Technically and visually, the film is a masterpiece. Shot from a handheld camera by longtime collaborator, Christopher Doyle, Wong Kar-wai seems to effortlessly capture the kinetic energy of the Hong Kong nightlife and the aching longing for attachment each character feels. The juxtaposition of rapid movements through the streets of Hong Kong with the stillness of the lead characters (both in the frame and in their inability to move forward in life) recalls the works of the greatest impressionistic painters. CHUNGKING EXPRESS is a must see, and truly one of the most brilliant films of all time.

For more information on TIFF’s Food on Film series, please visit tiff.net. On April 9, Madhur Jaffrey, award-winning actress, author, and authority on Indian cuisine, will be speaking on her culinary comedy TODAY’S SPECIAL. We will be back to cover MY DINNER WITH ANDRE in May. Bon Appétit!