Chungking Express Essay

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ChungKing Express Analysis: Synopsis/General: Chungking Express, directed by Wong Kar-Wai, contains stylistic elements of noir, action, suspense, thriller, and slapstick comedy, but overall, it is truly a romance film at heart. It not only features two stories that speak to the unpredictable and transient nature of love and relationships, the film itself is a love letter to the urban jungle that is Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind setting in which the events of the film unfold. The film is divided into two separate stories: the first involves Cop 223, He Qiwu, and the mysterious, alluring, drug-smuggling beauty, known only as the Woman in the Blond Wig, who he falls for, while the second narrative also features a nameless police officer, known only as Cop 663, and Faye, the mysterious snack bar attendant that enters his life (as well as his home). Wong Kar-Wai uses unsteady handheld camerawork, frenetic yet graceful camera movement, creative filming techniques, and kinetic editing, to craft two separate stories of love, each with their own distinct qualities, which converge in an expressive, cohesive single film. Theme: Acceptance of change as part of love Theme of film is brought out through the use of parallels: use of motifs, concept of time, cinematography, music, voice over commentary 1) Use of motifs: a. Food: Officer 223 measures time he waits for his ex-girlfriend in the expiry date of the pineapple cans, while Officer 663 always order chef’s salads at Midnight Express. In both cases, women are presented as craving varied menus. Food is used to define the men’s attitude toward change. It is only when they accept change, Officer 223 binging on food other than pineapples in the hotel room and Officer 663 ordering fish and chips instead of salad, that they find love. Change is necessary to love as variety is to diet. b. Airplane flights:
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