In the Mood for Love
2000 · Movie · PG · 99 min · ★ 8.1 · 90% critics
Set in 1960s Hong Kong, two neighbors discover troubling truths about their spouses after forming an increasingly intimate bond. As they cope with shared heartbreak, their connection grows—gentle, cautious, and complicated by honor and fear, even as unrequited feelings begin to stir.
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Details
- Original title
- 花樣年華
- Years
- 2000
- Release date
- 2000-09-29
- Language
- CN
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 8.1/10 (3,262 votes)
- Box office
- $14,202,625
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a romantic, mood-heavy story with lingering tenderness and betrayal aftermath, Not for you if you need a fast, fully resolving plot; fans of Chungking Express or Amour may find similar emotional pull.
Pros: stunning period atmosphere; intense emotional focus; memorable performances | Cons: slow, thin plot; unresolved feelings; uneven pacing
Themes
- adultery
- newspaper
- secret love
- martial arts
- lovesickness
- husband wife relationship
- shanghai, china
- marriage crisis
- married couple
- singapore
- deceived husband
- forbidden love
- +6 more
Awards & recognition
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 2001
- German Film Award — Best No-German Film · 2001
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Actor · 2001
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Actress · 2001
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2001
Show all 26 awards →
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Cinematography · 2001
- Cannes Film Festival Award — Best Actor · 2000
- European Film Award — Best Non-European Film · 2000
- Australian Film Institute Award — Best Foreign Film · 2001 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Film Not in the English Language · 2001 · nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2001 · nominated
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 2001 · nominated
- German Film Award — Best No-German Film · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Actor · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best New Performer · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Cinematography · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Director · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Actress · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Film · 2001 · nominated
- Hong Kong Film Award — Best Screenplay · 2001 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Foreign Film · 2001 · nominated
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2001 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2001 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Cinematography · 2001 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Non-European Film · 2000 · nominated
Cast & crew
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
- CM
Chan Man-Lei
as Mr. Koo
Koo Kam-Wah
as Mrs. Koo
Mama Hung
as Amah
Paulyn Sun
as Mrs. Chow (voice)
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai