【Movie Night】 In the Mood for Love 花样年华 (Free Entry)


Details
This event is co-hosted with the Auckland International Film club. Follow the film club on Facebook and Instagram to be part the growing community!
Rating: M – Suitable for mature audiences.
This March, join us for two special screenings—Chungking Express and In the Mood for Love—as we dive into the vibrant world of Wong Kar-wai, where romance and melancholy intertwine with striking visuals and evocative storytelling.
Wong Kar-wai, the internationally celebrated auteur of Hong Kong cinema, crafts films that pulse with longing and fragmented beauty. His signature style—swirling colors, hypnotic rhythms, and emotionally charged silences—transforms everyday heartache into timeless art. From the chaotic energy of crowded streets to the aching intimacy of unspoken desires, Wong’s work is a symphony of missed connections and melancholic grace.
Part Two: In the Mood for Love
In contrast to the liveliness of Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love showcases Wong Kar-wai’s exquisite exploration of subtlety and restraint. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, the story follows two neighbors—played by Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung—whose respective spouses are having affairs. Through stolen glances in narrow hallways and softly lit rooms, they share a mutual bond yet remain bound by unspoken codes of propriety, evoking a poignant sense of longing.
With painstaking attention to framing, the repeated use of a haunting score, and richly detailed period sets, Wong Kar-wai creates an atmosphere of poetic melancholy. Time seems suspended in dimly lit corridors and slow-motion sequences, illustrating the gentle ache of fleeting love. Widely regarded as one of Wong’s masterpieces, In the Mood for Love has earned international acclaim for its romantic elegance and thematic depth.
Following the screening, we’ll delve into the emotional core and visual aesthetic of In the Mood for Love. We’ll examine how Wong Kar-wai, with a minimalist touch, elicits profound emotional resonance from his audience. The conversation will also focus on his narrative style, use of music, and production design, and how these elements combine to evoke the film’s nostalgic grace. Whether you’re revisiting this classic or experiencing it for the first time, the film’s gentle poignancy is sure to leave an unforgettable impression.
After the discussion, feel free to stay and connect with fellow film lovers. Whether you're looking to make new friends or in the mood for love, it's a great opportunity to meet like-minded people!
Location: Ellen Melville Centre, 2 Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1000
Date and Time: Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 6:30 PM
Fee: Free entry!
Note: We’re hosting the event on the second floor of the Ellen Melville Center. Please use the entrance on the right side of the building on the ground floor. Once you go up to the second floor, you’ll see our venue right there.
Please try to arrive on time, and if you have any trouble getting in, feel free to send me a text message at 0274306328 – Rick.

【Movie Night】 In the Mood for Love 花样年华 (Free Entry)