In the Mood for Love(2001)

PG
1h 38m
- Drama
- Romance

Release Date: Feb 2, 2001 | Limited

Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.

Releases

Original Release | Feb 2, 2001

25th Anniversary (Janus Films) | Jun 27, 2025

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Box Office Results

All Releases (2)
Total US & Canada:
$3,596,859
Total International
$13,061,237
Total Worldwide:
$16,676,997

Total US & Canada:
$2,632,393
Total International
$10,115,973
Total Worldwide:
$12,748,366

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Director & Top Cast

Wong Kar-Wai
Director

Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
Chow Mo-wan

Maggie Cheung
Su Li-zhen - Mrs. Chan

Ping-Lam Siu
Ah Ping

Tung Cho ‘Joe’ Cheung
Man living in Mr. Koo's apartment

Rebecca Pan
Mrs. Suen

Kelly Lai Chen

Mr. Ho

Man-Lei Chan

Mr. Koo

Kam-Wah Koo

Actor

Chien Szu-Ying

Amah

Paulyn Sun

Mrs. Chow

Roy Cheung

Mr. Chan

Po-chun Chow

Actor

Hsien Yu

Actor

Julien Carbon

French tourist

Laurent Courtiaud

French reporter

Charles de Gaulle

Self (1966 visit to Cambodia)

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio: 1.66 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: Hong Kong,France

Language: Cantonese,Shanghainese,French,Spanish

Summaries

Plot Summary

Two couples Mr and Mrs Chan ( Mrs Chan played by Maggie Cheung ) and Mr and Mrs Chow ( Mr Chow played by Tony Leung Chiu Wai ) move into the same building on the same day. Both spend much time alone as their respective spouses work long hours. One day they discover when talking things over that their spouses are having an affaire. The two lonely hurt people come together as friends and try to reproduce the infidelity of their husband and wife whilst analysing just how it happened. Deciding in doing so to avoid the usual clichés and above all not become like 'them' they end up by falling in love for real. In becoming what they had objected to and despised they break up and leave for different lives. In the end of the movie we learn that both of the couples have split up and are alone. Mrs Chan has a son which we assume could be Mr Chow's although their 'union' was never actually shown, but implied. A divine movie with a beautiful haunting music and fabulous photography. Stephanie Murray

Storyline

Set in Hong Kong, 1962, Chow Mo-Wan is a newspaper editor who moves into a new building with his wife. At the same time, Su Li-zhen, a beautiful secretary and her executive husband also move in to the crowded building. With their spouses often away, Chow and Li-zhen spend most of their time together as friends. They have everything in common from noodle shops to martial arts. Soon, they are shocked to discover that their spouses are having an affair. Hurt and angry, they find comfort in their growing friendship even as they resolve not to be like their unfaithful mates. — Anonymous 1962, Hong Kong. On the exact same two days, Mr. and Mrs. Chow and Mr. and Mrs. Chan, who don't know each other, rent a room in adjacent flats from the resident owner, Mr. and Mrs. Koo and Mrs. Suen respectively, and move into their room. They join the friendly relationship that exists between their landlords and the other residents of the building, although the Chows and Chans' entry into the relationships are more cordial than friendly. With Mrs. Chow and Mr. Chan often out of town either on business or personal matters, Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan lead a somewhat emotionally lonely existence. The cordiality and emotional isolation extend to Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan's working lives. Mr. Chan, a newspaper journalist who would rather be writing martial arts serials, has as his closest work colleague Ping, a gambler who often takes advantage of that friendship. And Mrs. Chan's job as a secretary to married Mr. Ho largely entails her handling his personal affairs, including managing and facilitating his affair with Miss Yu, something she cannot talk about to anyone. Eventually, Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan individually come to the realization that their respective spouses are having an affair with each other, mostly taking place when they are out of town together. In dealing with this joint betrayal of their respective marriages, Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan begin spending time together. Despite they not doing anything untoward with each other, they do not tell anyone of their time together in the inappropriateness of two married people of the opposite sex being alone with each other. As they try to figure out what to do about their respective marriages, the situation becomes more complicated when they admit that they are falling in love with each other, something that neither intended when they began their friendship. — Huggo Hong Kong, 1962. Two married couples, the Chans and the Chows, move in next door to each other. Mr Chan is hardly around, regularly disappearing overseas on business. Mrs Chow works odd hours and also tends to go overseas a lot. Mrs Chan and Mr Chow are initially just neighbors but over time a friendship blossoms, and then develops into something more. — grantss Against the backdrop of a bustling 1962 Hong Kong, and a noisy, cramped apartment building, two neighbours, Mr Chow and Mrs Chan, gradually realise that their spouses are having an affair. Blemished by betrayal's painful stain, the lithe Mrs Chan and the morosely handsome Mr Chow now struggle to understand--and keep at bay bottled-up emotions, repression, and loneliness--bound by their noble beliefs and their inflexible morality. However, little by little, a silently passionate undercurrent of inexpressible affection starts to creep up on them, as both find themselves powerless before the catalytic force of love. Are man's vows strong enough to suppress desire? — Nick Riganas 1 more All