In the Mood for Love (2000)
Wong Kar-Wai's luminous portrait of unspoken desire, where two neighbors navigate forbidden longing with aching restraint in 1960s Hong Kong.
In the Mood for Love - Movie Information
- Original Title: 花樣年華
- Release Year: 2000
- Directed by: Wong Kar-Wai
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): PG
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- Original Language: CN
- Spoken Languages: Cantonese, French, Spanish
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 29, 2000 (Belgium - AL), February 2, 2001 (United States - PG), October 27, 2000 (United Kingdom - PG), November 8, 2000 (France - TP), March 29, 2001 (Australia - G), February 23, 2001 (Brazil - 14), April 28, 2021 (Italy), February 16, 2001 (Spain - 7), October 20, 2000 (South Korea - 15), February 14, 2025 (China)
- Alternative Titles: In the Mood for Love - Der Klang der Liebe (DE), 花样年华 (CN), 花樣年華 (HK), Aşk Zamanı (TR), In The Mood For Love (KR), In the Mood for Love (US), 花様年華：2000 (JP), Dalam Gejolak Cinta (ID)
- Production Companies: Block 2 Pictures, Paradis Films, Jet Tone Production
- Production Countries: Hong Kong, France
In the Mood for Love - Plot
Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.
In the Mood for Love - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and let the film's haunting atmosphere draw you in:
Feel the heat, keep the feeling burning, let the sensation explode.
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In the Mood for Love - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Wong Kar-Wai
Main Cast
- Maggie Cheung
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai
- Siu Ping-Lam
- Rebecca Pan
- Kelly Lai Chen
- Joe Cheung Tung-Cho
- Chan Man-Lei
- Koo Kam-Wah
- Mama Hung
- Paulyn Sun
Writers
- Wong Kar-Wai
- Liu Yichang
Producers
- Wong Kar-Wai
In the Mood for Love - FAQs
Where can you stream In the Mood for Love?
In the Mood for Love is available to stream on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel in the United States. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Shout! Factory TV offers it with ads.
What is the ending of In the Mood for Love explained?
The film ends with Chow Mo-wan visiting Angkor Wat and whispering his unspoken secret into a crevice in the ancient ruins, symbolically burying his feelings forever. The ending reflects the film's central theme: some emotions are too fragile and precious to be expressed openly, destined to remain sealed away.
Is In the Mood for Love based on a true story?
In the Mood for Love is not based on a true story. Director Wong Kar-Wai drew inspiration from Liu Yichang's novella Tête-bêche and from his own reflections on repressed desire and memory. The film is a deeply personal, fictional exploration of longing, restraint, and unspoken love in 1960s Hong Kong.
Who are the main actors in In the Mood for Love?
The film stars Maggie Cheung as Su Li-zhen and Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Chow Mo-wan, two neighbors who grow emotionally close after discovering their spouses are having an affair. The supporting cast includes Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen, Siu Ping-Lam, and Paulyn Sun.
Does In the Mood for Love have a happy ending?
The film does not have a conventionally happy ending. Su Li-zhen and Chow Mo-wan never act on their feelings, and their paths ultimately diverge. The conclusion is bittersweet and elegiac, emphasizing missed connection and the quiet devastation of love left unexpressed rather than fulfilled romance.
What is the age rating for In the Mood for Love?
In the Mood for Love is rated PG in the United States, making it accessible to general audiences. The film contains no graphic violence or explicit content; its emotional intensity comes from subtle performances, atmosphere, and the ache of restrained desire rather than any overtly adult material.
Did In the Mood for Love win any awards?
Yes. Tony Leung Chiu-wai won Best Actor at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, and the film received the Jury Prize for Technical Grand Prize. It also earned numerous Hong Kong Film Awards nominations and is consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made by critics worldwide.
How long is In the Mood for Love?
In the Mood for Love has a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes (99 minutes). Despite its relatively brief running time, the film's deliberate pacing, slow-motion sequences, and recurring musical motifs create a deeply immersive and emotionally expansive cinematic experience.
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