Wong Kar-wai Read online

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Silver Wai-ming Lee would like to thank all the publishers and authors who generously gave permission for reprinting and translating the interviews. He would also like to thank the following friends for their help: Lu Fang-long for contacting the publishers in Taiwan and Maurice Leung and Roy Chan for translating and proofreading some of the articles.

  Micky Lee would like to thank the following people at Suffolk University for their help: Marjorie Salvodon at the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies for her skillful translation from French to English; Michael DiLoreto, Josephine Ames, Andrew Hudson, Jessica Bartel, and Emily Thistle for their clerical support; Suffolk alumnus Jake Mulligan for his sharing of the full-length Grandmaster interview (abbreviated version originally appeared in Slant).

  Needless to say, the editors are responsible for all errors.

  NOTES

  1. As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, and Ashes of Time were screened at the noncompetition programs at Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film Festival respectively. But it was Chungking Express, the relatively approachable film, that first won the critics’ hearts and reached a wider audience in the West.

  2. See Pak-tong Cheuk, Hong Kong New Wave Cinema (1978–2000). Bristol: Intellect, 2008, pp. 15–16.

  3. The conversation between Wong Kar-wai and Kevin Tsai (a renowned Taiwanese TV host whose family originated from Shanghai) is not included in this volume; however, it is included in the bonus tracks of the Taiwanese version of Eros DVD. Wong told Tsai when Antonioni invited him to make the omnibus film Eros, he thought of the short story, The Taxi Dancer in the Dusk, by neo-sensualist writer Shi Zhecun. In the story, Shi used conversations to show the circumstances of the taxi dancer. Wong mentioned in the interview that the film was about eavesdropping rather than peeping. He further said when he was young he would visit his classmate’s neighbor whose sister was a nightclub dancer. Wong could hear sounds from her room but rarely saw her in person because she woke up very late. This “heard but not seen” fueled Wong’s imagination. Another inspiration for the film is Gong Li’s hand which is said to be very soft and sensuous, so Wong decided to make a film about her hand.

  Chronology

  1958

  Born on July 17 in Shanghai. His father is a hotel manager and his mother is a housewife. He is the youngest of three children.

  1963

  Moves with his mother to Hong Kong and lives in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. His father and siblings are unable to join them due to onset of the Cultural Revolution.

  1980

  Attends Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University), majoring in graphic design.

  1982

  Quits college and enrolls in a director training program offered by Television Broadcasts Limited. Continues to work there as a scriptwriter after graduation. Produces first television drama 執到寶 (Don’t Look Now) and is assistant director for 輪流轉 (Five Easy Pieces). Writes first screenplay 彩雲曲(Once upon a Rainbow).

  1985

  Writes 吉人天相 (Chase a Fortune), a comedy. Meets Alan Tang Kwong-wing, a former actor who became a film producer, at Wing Scope.

  1986

  Writes the screenplay for The Final Victory.

  1988

  Directs As Tears Go By, which receives positive reviews and good box office sales.

  1989

  At the 8th Hong Kong Film Awards, As Tears Go By wins Best Supporting Actor (Jacky Cheung) and Best Art Direction (William Chang) As Tears Go By screens at Cannes Film Festival at the International Critics’ Week.

  1990

  Days of Being Wild released but is received poorly among audiences and is pulled from theaters.

  1991

  Days of Being Wild received five awards at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Leslie Cheung), Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. The film re-released in theaters but still receives poor reception among audiences.

  1992

  Founds Jet Tone Films with Jeff Lau.

  1994

  Chungking Express released. Ashes of Time released two months later. Chungking Express was made during the lengthy production of Ashes of Time.

  1995

  Fallen Angels released in Hong Kong. Chungking Express wins four awards at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tony Leung), and Best Editing. Ashes of Time wins another three: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume and Make-up Design. The two films compete with each other in seven categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. At the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, Ashes of Time wins Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor (Leslie Cheung).

  1996

  Fallen Angels wins three awards at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Karen Mok), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. Chungking Express was the first Wong’s film screened in the US. It is released in DVD by Rolling Thunders, a distribution company launched by Quentin Tarantino. Wong made his first commercial, which is for the brand of Takeo Kikuchi.

  1997

  Happy Together released. Wong wins Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival; this is the first major international award won by Wong and the first Cannes award won by a director from the Greater China Region. Happy Together is nominated for the Palm d’Or. Tony Leung Chiu-wai wins Best Actor at the 16th Hong Kong Film Awards.

  1998

  Fallen Angels screens in the US. Wong mentions In the Mood for Love is in preproduction

  2000

  In the Mood for Love released. It premieres in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where Tony Leung Chiu-wai wins the Best Actor award. It wins the Best Technical Grand Prize and is nominated for the Palm d’Or. In the Mood for Love premieres at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

  2001

  In the Mood for Love screens in the US. The film wins five awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), Best Actress (Maggie Cheung), Best Art Direction, Best Costume and Make-up Design, and Best Film Editing. It also wins six “best foreign film” awards, including New York Film Critics Circle Awards and British Independent Film Awards. Wong directs a short promotion film for BMW. Wong is awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government for his contribution to society.

  2004

  2046 released. It premieres at the Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for a Palme d’Or.

  2005

  2046 screens in the US. It wins six awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), Best Actress (Zhang Ziyi), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume and Make-up Design, and Best Original Film Score. Eros premieres in September at the Venice Film Festival.

  2006

  Wong chairs the jury at the Cannes Film Festival and receives the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur.

  2007

  My Blueberry Nights, Wong’s first feature film in English, opens at Cannes. The Hand released in the omnibus Eros. Wong receives an Honorable Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences from the Open University of Hong Kong.

  2008

  My Blueberry Night opens in the US. Ashes of Time Redux, a remaster of the original, released with redubbed dialogue; however, Leslie Cheung’s voice is retained due to the actor’s suicide in 2003.

  2013

  The Grandmaster released. It is the opening film for the Berlin Film Festival. Wong receives the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government for his contribution to film.

  2014

  Wong receives a lifetime achievement award at the 45th International Film Festival of India. The Grandmaster wins twelve awards at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Zhang Ziyi), Best Supporting Actor (Max Zhang), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Costume and Make-up Design, Best Action Choreography, Best Original Film Score,
and Best Sound Design. The Grandmaster receives two nominations at the Academy Awards: Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. Wong chairs the Grand Jury at the Berlin Film Festival.

  2015

  The 3D version of The Grandmaster released in mainland China and Taiwan.

  2016

  To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Jet Tone, the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival screens Wong’s films produced by Jet Tone, including the 3D version of The Grandmaster and the sixty-minute version of The Hand.

  Filmography

  The Chinese title is followed by the Mandarin pinyin and the literal translation of the Chinese title (if applicable). All last names are capitalized.

  AS DIRECTOR

  Feature Films

  AS TEARS GO BY (1988)

  旺角卡門 / WANG JIAO KA MEN (MONG KOK CARMEN)

  Hong Kong

  Production company: In-Gear

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: Alan TANG Kwong-wing

  Director of photography: Andrew LAU Wai-keung

  Editor: Peter CHIANG

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Danny CHUNG Deng-yat

  Cast: Andy LAU, Jacky CHEUNG, Maggie CHEUNG, Alex MAN

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Jacky CHEUNG) and Best Art Direction; nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Andy LAU), Best Actress (Maggie CHEUNG), Best Supporting Actor (Alex MAN), Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Score

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Nominated for Best Director, and Best Art Direction

  Color, 102 minutes

  DAYS OF BEING WILD (1990)

  阿飛正傳 / A FEI ZHENG ZHUAN (THE STORY OF AH-FEI)

  Hong Kong

  Production company: In-Gear

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: Alan TANG Kwong-wing

  Director of photography: Christopher DOYLE

  Editors: Patrick TAM Ka-ming, KAI Kit-wai

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Terry CHAN Ming-tao

  Sound recordist: Steve CHAN Wai-hung

  Cast: Leslie CHEUNG, Andy LAU, Maggie CHEUNG, Carina LAU, Jacky CHEUNG, Rebecca PAN

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Leslie CHEUNG), Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction; nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Carina LAU), and Best Film Editing

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Rebecca PAN), Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup and Costume Design, and Best Sound Recording; nominated for Best Feature Film, Best Leading Actor (Leslie CHEUNG), and Best Leading Actress (Carina LAU)

  Color, 90 minutes

  CHUNGKING EXPRESS (1994)

  重慶森林 / CHONG QING SEN LIN (CHUNGKING JUNGLE)

  Hong Kong

  Production company: Jet Tone

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: Jeff LAU Chun-wai

  Directors of photography: Christopher DOYLE, Andrew LAU Wai-keung

  Editors: William CHANG Suk-ping, KAI Kit-wai, KONG Chi-leung

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Frankie CHAN, Roel A.GARCIA

  Cast: Brigitte LIN, Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai, Faye WONG, Takeshi KANESHIRO, Valerie CHOW

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Tony LEUNG), and Best Film Editing; nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Faye WONG), Best Supporting Actress (Valerie CHOW), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Film Score

  Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Film of Merit

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Best Leading Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai); nominated for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actress (Faye WONG), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Film Score

  Color, 98 minutes

  ASHES OF TIME (1994)

  東邪西毒 / DONG XIE XI DU (EASTERN HERETIC, WESTERN VENOM)

  Hong Kong

  Production companies: Scholar, Jet Tone

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai, based on the novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes (The Legend of Eagle-shooting Heroes 射鵰英雄傳)by Jin Yong (Louis CHA, 金庸)

  Producer: CHAN Pui-wah

  Director of photography: Christopher DOYLE

  Editors: Patrick TAM Ka-ming, William CHANG Suk-ping, KAI Kit-wai, KONG Chi-leung

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Frankie CHAN, Roel A.GARCIA

  Martial arts director: Sammo HUNG Kam-po

  Casts: Leslie CHEUNG, Tony LEUNG Kar-fai, Brigitte LIN, Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai, Carina LAU, Charlie YOUNG, Jacky CHEUNG, Maggie CHEUNG

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume and Makeup Design; nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Action Choreography, and Best Original Film Score

  Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor (Leslie CHEUNG)

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing; nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup and Costume Design

  Venice Film Festival: Golden Osella Award for Best Cinematography

  Color, 98 minutes

  FALLEN ANGELS (1995)

  墮落天使 / DUO LUO TIAN SHI (FALLEN ANGELS)

  Hong Kong

  Production company: Jet Tone

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producers: WONG Kar-wai, Jeff LAU Chun-wai

  Director of photography: Christopher DOYLE

  Editors: William CHANG Suk-ping, WONG Ming-lam

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Frankie CHAN, Roel A.GARCIA

  Cast: Leon LAI, Michele REIS, Takehi KANESHIRO, Charlie YOUNG, Karen MOK, CHAN Fai-hung, CHAN Man-lui

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Karen MOK), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Film Score; nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best New Performer (CHAN Man-lui), Best Art Direction, Best Costume and Makeup Design, and Best Film Editing

  Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Film of Merit

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Best Film Editing and Best Art Direction; nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Original Film Score

  Color, 96 minutes

  HAPPY TOGETHER (1997)

  春光乍洩 / CHUN GUANG ZHA XIE (FIRST GLEAM OF THE SPRING LIGHT)

  Hong Kong

  Production companies: Block 2 Pictures, Jet Tone

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: WONG Kar-wai

  Director of photography: Christopher DOYLE

  Editors: William CHANG Suk-ping, WONG Ming-lam

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Danny CHUNG Deng-yat

  Sound editor: TU Duu-chih

  Sound recordist: LEUNG Chi-tat

  Cast: Leslie CHEUNG, Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai, CHANG Chen

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai); nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Leslie CHEUNG), Best Supporting Actor (CHANG Chen), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume and Makeup Design

  Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Film of Merit

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Won Best Cinematography; nominated for Best

  Director, Best Leading Actor (Leslie CHEUNG), Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Sound Effects

  Cannes Film Festival: Won Best Director

  Color, 96 minutes

  IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2000)

  花樣年華 / HUA YANG NIAN HUA (THE AGE OF FLOWERS)

  Hong Kong, France

  Production co
mpanies: Block 2 Pictures, Paradis Films, Jet Tone

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: WONG Kar-wai

  Directors of photography: Christopher DOYLE, Mark LEE Ping-bing

  Editor: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Michael GALASSO

  Cast: Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai, Maggie CHEUNG, Rebecca PAN, SIU Ping-lam, CHAN Man-lui, CHIN Tsi-ang

  Hong Kong Film Awards: Best Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai), Best Actress (Maggie CHEUNG), Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume and Makeup Design; nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Rebecca PAN), Best New Performer (SIU Ping-lam), Best Cinematography, and Best Original Film Score

  Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Best Director and Film of Merit

  Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan): Best Leading Actress (Maggie CHEUNG), Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup and Costume Design; nominated for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai), Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Film Score

  Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor (Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai) and Technical Grand Prize (Christopher DOYLE, Mark LEE Ping-bing and William CHANG Suk-ping)

  Color, 98 minutes

  2046 (2004)

  Hong Kong, France, Italy, China

  Production companies: Block 2 Pictures, Jet Tone, Paradis Films, Orly Films Classic Srl, Shanghai Film Group

  Director: WONG Kar-wai

  Screenplay: WONG Kar-wai

  Producer: WONG Kar-wai

  Directors of photography: Christopher DOYLE, LAI Yiu-fai, KWAN Pun-leung

  Editor: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Art director: William CHANG Suk-ping

  Music: Peer RABEN, Shigeru UMEBAYASHI

  Cast: Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai, ZHANG Ziyi, GONG Li, Faye WONG, Takuya KIMURA, CHANG Chen, Carina LAU, Maggie CHEUNG, DONG Jie