In the Mood for Love

Story Line: Hong Kong newspaperman Chow Mo-wan (Wai) and his neighbor, Su Li-Zhen Chan (Cheung) learn that their spouses are having an affair. Their mutual efforts at consolation blossom into romance, and they grapple with the moral dilemma of sustaining an adulterous affair while still caring about their partners.

Bottom Line: Critics familiar with Hong Kong product have almost unanimously agreed that In the Mood for Love is the best film yet from Wong Kar-wai (whose earlier successes include Chungking Express and Happy Together), and they'll get no argument from this quarter. The remarkably beautifully film, rich with emotion but told with restraint, deals forthrightly with complex issues of the heart. And perhaps most refreshingly, it does so without becoming coarse or lascivious, which is the fate of most contemporary Hollywood dramas covering the same ground. Wai and Cheung are letter-perfect in every aspect of their portrayals. Their characters are thoroughly believable and react logically to their situations. This Hong Kong film has real breakthrough potential. It's an achingly authentic human drama, so the cultural differences won't impede viewers in the slightest. Recommend it to strongly anyone who's leery about taking a chance with Far Eastern cinema. --Ed Hulse