In The Mood For Love

World War I had a huge influence on French film industry where many film studios were forced to halt and even American films were slowly replacing the French's. However, the young generation of French directors claimed that a film should be an art which is purely itself. They started experimenting with cinema in the ways that posed an alternative to the dominant Hollywood formal principles. They experimented with cinema to show a sense of art of emotion which dominated intimate psychological narrative. Hence, through Wong Kar Wai's film - In The Mood For Love will be discussed with the application of French Impressionism on it.

An Impressionist film's narration shows an interest in psychological depth to reveal a character's consciousness in the film. The interest in psychological depth shows inner action as well other than external physical behavior. Impressionist films commonly play with memories or flashback to manipulate plot time and subjectivity and sometimes show a character's dream, fantasies, and mental states. In order to reveal a character's thoughts and feelings, the Impressionists films usually uses irises, masks and superimposition. Cinematography and editing play important roles in Impressionists films too to show a character's perceptual experience and their optical impressions yet to enhance the narrative treatment of psychological states. Thus, point-of-view shot is generally used, therefore, frame mobility has developed to move as a representation of the character's eyes which cameras are strapped on cars, carousels and locomotives; distorted shots, filtered shots, or vertiginous camera movements are show a drunk or dizzy character in Impressionists films as well. Next, the pace of an experience of how a character feels can be shown through rhythmic editing, for instance, the rhythm increase when the character in involved in a scene of violence or emotional turmoil. Some Impressionists films like to enhance the rhythm through a dance. Therefore, the comparison of cinema to music are useful in accelerating the rhythmic editing.

Two married neighbors, Mr. Chow who is a journalist, and Mrs. Chan who is a secretary, both have rented and moved into a very crowded apartment on the same day. Their friendship has slowly developed and both realize their respective spouses are having an affair with each other. Both of them imagine how their spouses first hooked up and help Mrs. Chan to rehearsal interrogation. They started falling in love with each other, however, they are both bound by the moral stand.

This film explores the psychological cause to review what the character is thinking. For instance, when Mrs. Chan is buying noodle at the stall, without a word is spoken, the dialogues is replaced by her body language and her eyes expressions which reveal her inner loneliness consciousness. With the camera movement in between the crowded stall and the people, the shots seem to be peeping of her daily life, where she is trying to avoid others which makes her even stands out lonely in the street. Other than that, Mr. Chow inner thoughts are shown when he is alone in the office. He lights up a cigarette, with expressionless face, seemingly working hard on his job, however, the cloudy smoke above his head indirectly expresses his inner thoughts which are not clear and his mind is clouded like the smoke.

Besides, this film manipulates plot time where Mrs. Chan is watching the neighbors playing mahjong, the scene is shown in slow motion editing to express a sense of time is passing slowly as Mrs. Chan is not enjoying and having a good time at that moment. Next, the music used in the film are mostly similar to match the visual rhythm. It is to show both protagonists are having a constantly repeating life. They are found usually eating alone, walking alone, and the shots at the narrow hallways and staircases have emotionally enhanced the unspoken desire of both Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan.

Lastly, the ancient place in Angkor Wat is shown magnificently after Mr. Chow has whispered into a stone hollow and filled with mud. It is seemingly showing there are lots of unheard secrets, regrets, and feelings are told here.

This film is somehow shown beautifully throughout the whole film. The atmosphere during the 60's in Hong Kong, the stunning shots and scenes are like paintings which capture the most ordinary moment of life of anyone else, however revealing the hidden beauty and unheard feelings of one.