2046 (2004)

Directed by: Wong Kar Wai | 129 minutes | drama, romance, science fiction | Actors: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang, Li Gong, Takuya Kimura, Faye Wong, Carina Lau, Jie Dong, Chen Chang, Wang Sum, Ping Lam Siu, Thongchai McIntyre

With a sequel you quickly think of more of the same. A sequel often shamelessly copies the best parts of the original and often loses out to the first part. Now ‘2046’ is also a sequel, but the print differs so much from Kar Wai’s original from 2000 that you can speak of a completely new, standalone film. The film can best be described as the memoirs of writer Chow Mo Wan (Leung) mixed with a science fiction sauce. Wan looks back on his life, in which lost loves are central. Since his failed love affair with Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), the writer plunges into fleeting affairs that lead to nothing.

People hoping for a bright sequel to Kar Wai’s beautiful love epic ‘In the Mood for Love’ will have to adjust their expectations considerably. The sequel ‘2046’ is anything but a run-of-the-mill sequel to that modern classic. Where ‘In the Mood for Love’ was a clearly defined film, ‘2046’ is a more fragmentary story that demands a lot from the viewer’s empathy.

Through juggling with time and through symbolism, the story behind ‘2046’ unfolds. The character in Wan’s novel is an autobiographical representation of the author himself. Due to the fragmentary way of telling, a fraction of inattention can make you no longer understand the story. The result of a loss of concentration can be that the loose narrative structure leaves you completely cold and the film becomes long-winded and boring for you. As a viewer you have to do a lot of puzzling to be able to follow ‘2046’. The print mixes up past, present and future and occasionally also refers to the events from ‘In the Mood for Love’. The complicated storyline and complex narrative structure are both a plus and a minus of the film. For viewers unfamiliar with ‘In the Mood for Love’, ‘2046’ will soon be a complete mystery. The film demands some knowledge about the characters, events and atmosphere from the predecessor. The director does not stop to clarify that history. On the contrary. It’s up to you to put the events into context. That’s not always easy, because Kar Wai occasionally mixes up three love stories. The surprising sci-fi images from the fictional novel also make following ‘2046’ extra spicy.

However, the intertwining of the different storylines has no effect on the visual splendor of the film. The (separate) scenes ripple past you at a wonderfully slow pace. In ‘2046’ Kar Wai works together again with the same cameraman and composer from his 2000 film. Chris Doyle once again takes care of the camera work, which again provides a fantastic viewing experience. The cameraman plays with images, so he knows how to turn seemingly everyday things into a true work of art. Through a separate camera setup, color filters and slow shots, Doyle makes small details such as smoke from a burning cigarette and the light on clothing look beautiful. The sultry images are accompanied by a moody soundtrack. The Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi has once again made a beautiful, lingering score. The sad music enhances the mood of the images. Besides the instrumental music, there are also old Jazz evergreens by Connie Francis and Dean Martin. At times ‘2046’ creates a feeling of melancholy. It is especially the strong music and visual style that is reminiscent of ‘In the Mood for Love’. Just like that film, ‘2046’ also aims to elicit melancholic feelings in the viewer, due to the highly coordinated symbiosis of music and image.

But the unusual narrative structure makes it difficult (for those unfamiliar with the first part) to sympathize with the character Tony Leung plays. That makes the film very inaccessible for newcomers, but also for people who have seen the first part. ‘In the Mood for Love’ also relied a lot on atmosphere, but because that film was a well-defined story, that didn’t bother me. The emotions of the characters were much clearer, especially since it revolved around only two people. In ‘2046’ many more characters appear who have to create a complete character in a relatively short time. Fortunately, Kar Wai has managed to gather a true star cast. Especially the handsome Ziyi Zhang plays very strong. The actress portrays an interesting young woman who struggles with her feelings. Gong Li and Faye Wong also portray strong characters. Lead actor Leung is always interesting to watch, no matter what part he plays. This Chinese superstar always manages to intrigue with his beautiful playing that uses a lot of body language and facial expressions. Under the difficult form of ‘2046’ lies a (hopeful) story in which love is central. Love can be beautiful, but it can also be stifling. A game between lovers that is played on the cutting edge and where victims fall. But time heals all wounds and who knows what the future has in store for you, it’s just a matter of timing it before love has its grip on you again.

How much you can enjoy ‘2046’ depends entirely on the viewer. The film demands a lot of concentration and is certainly not easy. However, it is a bold and daring move by Kar Wai not to just make a simple sequel to his hit 2000 hit. However, if you are familiar with Kar Wai’s previous work and are willing to invest 129 minutes in a difficult film, then there is waiting a wonderful production on you.