Wong Kar-wai's maddeningly belated film 2046 has taken him four years to
shoot. True to his enigmatic character, he has kept details of the movie vague
and mysterious.
Some say that he never takes his sunglasses off,
even when shooting. Rumour also has it that 2046 has no script at all, which
explains the many rampant speculations on the plot of the film. In a 2001
interview with Bomb magazine, Wong revealed that "it is a futuristic film, but
it's not a science fiction film. There are three stories in the film, and each
one is adapted from a Western opera - Madame Butterfly, Carmen and Tannhauser."
Wong began filming 2046 while he was still filming his last feature, In the
Mood For Love, and has told the media that he considers this latest film to be a
continuation of that film - though knowing Wong, this probably doesn't mean that
it will be a straight-forward sequel. The film is apparently an expansion of a
scene originally shot for In the Mood For Love.
In a November press conference in Shanghai, Wong revealed some details of the
plot. Tony Leung, who played the depressed protagonist in In the Mood For Love,
plays essentially the same character in 2046, though this time he is a novelist
rather than a newspaper editor. According to Wong, the title of the movie refers
to an important year for Hong Kong - in 1997, after the handover back to the
China Mainland, the Chinese Government promised Hong Kong 50 years of autonomy.
2046 will mark the end of that 50 years. The title also apparently refers to a
sci-fi novel that Leung's character writes based on a one-night tryst with a
prostitute in room 2046 of a hotel.
Wong's usual cast is onboard: Maggie Cheung, Faye Wong, Chang Chen - and
Zhang Ziyi will also make an appearance as a robot looking for love. According
to Wong, In the Mood For Love was about changing emotions contrasted with an
unchanging background. Apparently, 2046 is about the same thing, whatever that
means. Faye Wong, the Hong Kong popstar (who starred in Chungking Express), also
plays a robot who is loved by two men played by Chang Chen and Takaya Kimura.
Shanghai, the director's birthplace, is the backdrop to the film, and the film
will feature both 1960s Shanghai and a Bladerunner-esque Shanghai of the future.
Wong has promised a lot of digital effects, which he has also used as an excuse
for the delays in production. Fans are certainly expecting a super-slick,
super-cool hipster masterpiece.
Some have joked that the title of the film might also refer to the actual
release date. But as of press time, the film is slated for a spring release, and
is also rumoured that it may premier at Cannes. The China Film Cooperation has
bought the distribution rights for the film and it is currently being censored
for mainland release. The film is expected to premier here during the Lantern
Festival. Whatever the reasons for the delays, the anticipation and speculation
have driven fans into a frenzy. From all indications, this film may very well
meet or exceed expectations, ushering in a new era of Chinese
cool.
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