Happy Together (film)

Infobox Film
name = Happy Together
writer = Wong Kar-wai
starring = Tony Leung
Leslie Cheung
Chang Chen
director = Wong Kar-wai
producer = Chan Ye-cheng
distributor = Kino International
music =
released = 1997
runtime = 96 min
language = Cantonese
Mandarin
Spanish
budget =
preceded_by = "Fallen Angels" (1995)
followed_by = "In the Mood for Love" (2000)
music =
awards =
amg_id = 1:155000
imdb_id = 0118845

"Happy Together" (traditional Chinese: 春光乍洩; simplified Chinese: 春光乍泄; pinyin: Chūn guāng zhà xiè; jyutping: Ceon1 gwong1 za3 sit3) is a 1997 Hong Kong movie directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, that depicts a turbulent romance between two men. The English title is inspired by The Turtles' 1967 song, which is covered by Danny Chung on the film's soundtrack; the Chinese title (previously used for Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blowup") is an idiomatic expression suggesting "the exposure of something indecent."cite web |title=Happy Together (1997) |work=Time Out Film Guide |author=Tony Rayns |title=Happy Together (1997) |url=http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/71718/happy-together.html Retrieved July 7, 2008]

The film received positive reviews from several film festivals, including a win for Best Director at the 1997Cannes Film Festival. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118845/awards IMDb - Awards section] Retrieved February 19, 2008]

Plot outline

Ho Po-Wing (Leslie Cheung) and Lai Yiu-fai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai), a couple from pre-handover Hong Kong, visit Argentina hoping to renew their ailing relationship. The two have a pattern of abuse, followed by break-ups and reconciliations. One of their goals in Argentina is to visit the Iguazu waterfalls, which serves as a leitmotiv in the movie.

The movie unfolds in the following sections:

Part 1

As the two arrive into Argentina, they pick a car. During the ride however, they get into an argument and break up. Lai (played by Tony Leung) is the more stable and committed of the two, and desires nothing more than a fairly normal life. He tries to deal with the break up rationally and gets a job at a local nightclub. Ho (played by Leslie Cheung) has an extremely destructive personality and is not able to commit to a monogamous relationship. Ho seems to be motivated by a both a need for attention as well as a need to simply hurt Fai. Ho picks up numerous other men, and even goes so far to bring them to the club that Lai works at. Lai tries very hard to lead a normal life at this point, but is nearly driven to the brink.

Part 2

One day Ho Po-Wing turns up severely beaten at Lai Yiu-fai's apartment, who takes him in and begins to take care of him. Ho's hands are injured so at this point, he relies on Lai for nearly everything. Initially, Lai works hard to keep Ho at bay physically and emotionally. However in the end, they get back together. Their actions indicate a continual pattern of abuse, break-up, finally followed by reconciliation. As in the previous times, in the beginning Ho does try to make the relationship work, but gradually the destructive side of his personality takes over and the familiar cycle of mutual abuse and dependence starts once more.

Part 3

As Lai and Ho's relationships starts falling apart again, Lai befriends Chang, a fellow Chinese from Taiwan at work. In some sense, Chang is Ho's opposite. Whereas Ho is manipulative and volatile, Chang is straightforward and stable. After Ho fully recovers, he resumes his playboy lifestyle and leaves Lai. Lai copes with the loss by spending more and more time with Chang. It is hinted that Chang is attracted to Lai, stating that he likes 'deep, low voices', and asking Lai to record something on a portable tape-recorder before Chang leaves Buenos Aries. Chang's unassuming self-awareness and sincerity help Lai out of his depression, contributing to his eventual realization that his relationship with Ho Po-Wing is based on an ideal which no longer has any basis in reality.

Part 4

After a few months, Ho again contacts Lai, but this time, Lai has the strength to avoid starting the cycle. While on the surface, Ho is angry about Lai's rejection, privately he also mourns this loss. Eventually, Lai finds the strength to visit the waterfalls and return to Hong Kong. Lai then visits Taipei and seeks out Chang's family's noodle shop in the night market. He steals a picture of Chang as a remembrance.

Critical reception

Due to the international recognition that the film received, it was reviewed in several major U.S. publications. Edward Guthmann, of the "San Francisco Chronicle", gave the film an ecstatic review, lavishing praise on Wong for his innovative cinematography and directorial approach; whilst naming Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs amongst those who would have been impressed by his film. [cite news | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/11/14/DD24951.DTL | title = Misery Loves Company in `Happy Together' | publisher = San Francisco Chronicle, Edward Guthmann | date = 1997-10-14 Retrieved February 19, 2008] Stephen Holden, of the New York Times, said it was more coherent, heartfelt movie than the Wong's previous films, without losing the stylism and brashness of his earlier efforts. [cite news | url = http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?title1=&title2=Happy%20Together%20%28Movie%29%20%20&reviewer=Stephen%20Holden&v_id=155000&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes | title = NY Times Review | publisher = New York Times, Stephen Holden | date = Retrieved February 19, 2008]

However, Jonathan Rosenbaum gave the film a mixed review in the "Chicago Reader". Rosenbaum, in a summary of the film, criticized it for having a vague plotline and chastised Wong's "lurching around". [cite news | url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/movies/archives/1998/0198/01238.html | title = Cult Confusion | publisher = Chicago Reader, Jonathan Rosenbaum | date = 1997 Retrieved February 19, 2008] In "Box Office Magazine", Wade Major gave the film one of its most negative reviews, saying that it offered "little in the way of stylistic or narrative progress, although it should please his core fans." He deprecated Wong's cinematography, labelling it "random experimentation" and went on to say this was inexcusable due to the lack of narrative. [cite news | url = http://www.boxoffice.com/scripts/fiw.dll?GetReview?&where=ID&terms=3842 | title = | publisher = Box Office Magazine, Wade Major | date = Retrieved February 19, 2008]

Wong, in regards to the interpretation of the film said::"In this film, some audiences will say that the title seems to be very cynical, because it is about two persons living together, and at the end, they are just separate. But to me, happy together can apply to two persons or apply to a person and his past, and I think sometimes when a person is at peace with himself and his past, I think it is the beginning of a relationship which can be happy, and also he can be more open to more possibilities in the future with other people." [ [http://www.asiastudios.com/interviews/members/wongkarwai.html Wong Kar-wai Exclusive Interview] Retrieved February 19, 2008]

Box office

During its Hong Kong theatrical release, "Happy Together" made HK $8,600,141 at the box office. The tally is unspectacular, but respectable given the subject matter and restrictive Category III rating. It was also typical of a Wong Kar Wai film.

"Happy Together" also had a limited theatrical run in North America through Kino International, where it grossed US $320,319.

Awards and nominations

* 1997 Cannes Film Festival
** Won: Best Director (Wong Kar-wai)
** Nominated: Palme d'Or

* 1998 Arizona International Film Festival
** Won: Audience Award - Most Popular Foreign Film

* 1997 Golden Horse Awards
** Won: Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle)
** Nominated: Best Director (Wong Kar-wai)
** Nominated: Best Actor (Leslie Cheung)

* 1997 Hong Kong Film Awards
** Won: Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai)
** Nominated: Best Picture
** Nominated: Best Director (Wong Kar-wai)
** Nominated: Best Actor (Leslie Cheung)
** Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Chang Chen)
** Nominated: Best Art Direction (William Chang)
** Nominated: Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle)
** Nominated: Best Costume and Make-up Design (William Chang)
** Nominated: Best Film Editing (William Chang, Wong Ming-lam)

* 1998 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
** Film of Merit

* 1998 Independent Spirit Awards
** Nominated: Best Foreign Film

ee also

* Cinema of China
* Queer Cinema

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0118845|title=Happy Together
* [http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/baht/index2_e.html Fanpage of "Happy Together"]