In the Mood for Love
Movie, 2000, Named by critics, Set in Second in the trilogy
In the Mood for Love is #24 of 48 in release order and #23 of 48 in chronological order in the Spiritual Trilogies.
The story
In 1960s Hong Kong, two neighbors form an intimate bond after making a discovery about their spouses in this visually stunning tale of unrequited love.
In the Mood for Love recap
In Hong Kong in 1962, the journalist Chow Mo-wan and the secretary Su Li-zhen, known as Mrs. Chan, move into neighbouring rooms in the same crowded building on the same day. Their spouses are rarely home. From a handbag and a tie, the two realise their husband and wife are having an affair with each other. They meet in noodle stalls and act out how the affair might have started, and how Su might confront her husband, promising each other they will not become like them. Chow asks Su to help him write martial arts serials and rents a hotel room, number 2046, so they can work away from the neighbours' gossip. They grow close but hold back. Chow takes a job in Singapore and asks her to come; she reaches the room too late. It is the middle film in Wong Kar-wai's Love Trilogy, with Tony Leung's Chow carrying on into 2046 and Maggie Cheung's character named after a woman in Days of Being Wild.
In the Mood for Love ending explained
The two never get together, and Chow whispers his secret into a wall at Angkor Wat. In Singapore, Su secretly visits Chow's room and calls without speaking. Years later she moves back into the old building with a young son; Chow visits his former landlady next door, and neither knows the other is nearby. In 1966, in Cambodia, Chow whispers into a hole in a ruined wall at Angkor Wat and seals it with mud, following an old story about keeping a secret, while a young monk watches.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love is streaming on Shout! Factory TV and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Face/Off, before O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
- Chronological order: after Days of Being Wild, before 2046.
Cast
- Maggie Cheung as Su Li-zhen
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Chow Mo-wan
- Siu Ping-Lam as Ah Ping
- Rebecca Pan as Mrs. Suen
- Kelly Lai Chen as Mr. Ho
- Joe Cheung Tung-Cho as Man Living in Mr. Koo's Apartment
- Chan Man-Lei as Mr. Koo
- Koo Kam-Wah as Mrs. Koo
- Mama Hung as Amah
- Paulyn Sun as Mrs. Chow (voice)
- Roy Cheung Yiu-Yeung as Mr. Chan (voice)
- Julien Carbon as French Tourist (uncredited)
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai.