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Review
by Kozo:
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The latest from HK auteur Wong Kar-Wai is an elliptical,
quicksilver experiment and the film that cemented
his international reputation as one of the leading
filmmakers of our time. Happy Together is an
exercise in emotional estrangement—from one’s
lover, one’s homeland, and oneself. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
and Leslie Cheung are the lovers whose tumultuous
relationship is a process of breaking up and making
up.
The two decide to start over
in Buenos Aires, but true to form their bickering
dissolves their relationship. Never reaching the waterfall
they intended to visit in the first place, they go
their separate ways. Somehow they find themselves
back together, and the slow burn of their disintegrating
love provides more exploration into the lives of lost,
lonely souls that is Wong Kar-Wai’s never-ending obsession.
As is usual, there are no
real answers provided by Wong's existential musings.
Happy Together is simply a journey, and an
affecting one. Eventually, what we find is reflection
of where we belong, where we find our home, and what
happened along the way. Christopher Doyle shoots the
film in lovely shades of rich, lurid color. Arty and
existential to an almost maddening end, this film
is pure Wong Kar-Wai, which is equal parts longing,
regret, and pathetic beauty. (Kozo 1997)
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