Synopsis

Set in Hong Kong in 1962, the film follows neighbors Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen, whose spouses are frequently away. When they discover that their partners are having an affair, the two form a restrained, deeply emotional bond. Their growing intimacy is shaped by social expectations, personal dignity, and the fear that acting on their feelings would make them no better than those who betrayed them.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film began as part of a much broader project that considered several periods and storylines. Earlier plans included settings in the 1960s and 1990s, while later material set in the 1970s was ultimately removed.

• A sex scene involving the two central characters was filmed but discarded during editing. Its omission helped preserve the film's deliberate focus on restraint, implication, and emotional distance.

• The title comes from Bryan Ferry's song "I'm in the Mood for Love." The film also draws on popular music associated with the era, including recordings by Nat King Cole.

• The production received two major honors at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival: Tony Leung Chiu-wai won Best Actor, and the film received the Technical Grand Prize for its visual work.

• The repeated stairway and hallway scenes were carefully designed around routine and variation. The familiar settings make even small changes in gesture, clothing, and distance feel significant.

• The film is commonly regarded as an unofficial companion to "Days of Being Wild." Maggie Cheung's character has the same name in both films, although the stories are not directly connected.

• The closing section moves beyond the film's enclosed Hong Kong settings to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, giving the private story a sense of historical distance and lasting memory.