CHUNGKING EXPRESS
This past weekend, I watched the 1994 film CHUNGKING EXPRESS (trailer here) by iconic Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar Wai—in a movie theater. The double-pronged film follows two police officers who are both getting over exes. In their breakup processes, they each meet a mysterious new woman who changes the course of their lives. The cinematography, sound design, and production design in the film are oh-so-beautiful and dynamic, letting WKW’s directorial style really shine in this story of lovesickness, chance encounters, and the surprising interconnectedness of us all. Also, hats off to WKW for writing two strong female protagonists who are flawed but also charming, complex, and captivating. The heroine Faye is what I’d call “chaotic good” and might just be my favorite take on the “gamine” who’s fickle and sneaky, but all in the name of a good time. If you’re in the LA area and want to see it in theaters, the American Cinematheque is screening the film with new 35mm restorations this Friday (10/1) at the Los Feliz 3!
—Aimee Pham, Production & Development Intern
