Happy Together (1997) Movie Review

"Happy Together" is a complicated examination of mood, and like all Wong kar-wai's films, examines the question of what love is and what it makes people do.

This film marks an interesting change in Wong kar-Wai's hectic, high-propane style. As measured, yet full of sensuality and passion as the tango that pervades this film, the film sets up an atmosphere, helped by the score and cinematography (Doyle as always, is amazing). The film follows the difficult and ultimately doomed relationship between two men from Hong Kong, stranded in Buenos Aires. One (Leslie Cheung) is fickle, selfish and irresponsible, the other (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), though not blind to the situation and the other's faults, cannot but allow himself to be exploited in order to be together with the one he loves. In this film, Wong kar-Wai explores the painful and agonising side of love that comes from being mistreatment and abuse. Beunos Aires is depicted like the end of the world, the last stop for the truly lost, subject only to intrusions by busloads of crass tourists and sexual predators willing to pay for kitsch and artificiality of any kind. This is not a film which lends itself to a happy mood, ironically. Happiness exists in memories, or in a flawed form, precariously existing from one scene to the next. Though much sadness exists, Tony Leung's character is touched and reminded by a young cheerful kitchen hand at the restaurant he works at, that hope and salvation exists, if only you have the strength to take that step.

The film still suffers a bit from the organic style of its director, who eschews having a structure to his film projects. However, it has a lush style that conjures up moods and feelings that fascinates and remains entangled in one's mind long after the movie ends.