Chungking Express

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Chungking Express ★★★ Hong Kong Express; Chongqing Senlin 1995 (PG-13)

Director Karwai presents two quirky tales of loneliness and love, loosely linked by a snack bar in the tourist section of Hong Kong. Cops and drugs are still a part of the storyline, but this is no chopsocky action movie. Both male protagonists are cops, identified only by their badge numbers, who have recently been dumped by their girlfriends. One has a fixation for canned pineapple and expiration dates, the other talks to the inanimate objects in his apartment. The women they eventually fall for are a blondewigged heroin dealer and a shy counter girl who bops to “California Dreaming” after breaking in and cleaning the cop's apartment without his knowledge. Shot commandostyle in 23 days during the hiatus of Wong's “Ashes of Time” without permits or professional lighting. The high energy is reflected in the pacing and acting performances. Chosen by Quentin Tarantino as the first release of his Miramaxbacked Rolling Thunder imprint. 102m/C VHS, DVD . HK Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung ChiuWai, Faye Wong, Valerie Chow, Piggy Chan; D: Wong KarWai; W: Wong KarWai; C: Christopher Doyle, Lau WaiKeung; M: Frankie Chan, Roel A. Garcia.