花樣年華 (aka In The Mood For Love) (2000)

Set in 1962 Hong Kong, a journalist (Tony Leung) and a secretary (Maggie Cheung) who live next door to each other discover their spouses are having an affair. Often left alone by their spouses, they begin spending time with each other. Written and directed by Wong Kar Wai (2046). Like David Lean's BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945), this is a bittersweet romance that is never consummated though much more luscious in its execution (immeasurably aided by the cinematography of Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping Bin). Much of the film's power comes from what remains unsaid but the beautifully subtle and excellent performances of Leung (who won the Cannes film festival's best actor award) and Cheung (looking exquisite in her gorgeous William Chang costumes) allow us to see the emotional arc their characters are living through. Wong's understated direction never pushes but lets the simplicity (but not simple) of its narrative carry us to its poignant conclusion. A one of a kind movie romance. With Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen and Joe Cheung.