As Tears Go By

Year: 1988

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Wong Kar-wai

DramaCrimeRomance

Mid-level gangster Wah falls in love with his beautiful cousin, but must also continue to protect his volatile partner-in-crime and friend, Fly.

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Melancholic crime stories with yearning characters like As Tears Go By

Tough criminals with soft hearts, torn between violent loyalty and fragile love.If you liked the emotional conflict in As Tears Go By, explore other movies where hardened criminals are softened by love or the dream of a normal life. These similar dramas focus on the tension between brutal loyalty and fragile hope, often leading to bittersweet or tragic endings.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a criminal protagonist who is competent and respected in their violent world. Their life is upended by the introduction of something pure—often a romantic interest or a peaceful environment—that represents an escape. The story contrasts their two worlds, building towards an inevitable clash where their old life demands a final, fatal payment, extinguishing their newfound hope.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared emotional core: a deep melancholic tone born from the 'what if' scenario. They share a steady pacing that allows for character reflection, high intensity from criminal stakes, and a heavy emotional weight centered on futile dreams and fated tragedy.

Gritty urban tragedies about brotherhood like As Tears Go By

Stories of fierce loyalty in harsh cityscapes, where bonds become a death sentence.For viewers who appreciated the intense brotherly bond and fatalistic urban setting of As Tears Go By, this list features similar movies about loyal partnerships in crime. These stories explore how deep loyalty in a violent world can lead to a tragic, fated conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The plot centers on a codependent relationship, typically between a more level-headed protagonist and a volatile, self-destructive partner. The protagonist repeatedly sacrifices their own safety and potential happiness to protect their friend, who continually drags them deeper into danger. The narrative is a straightforward descent, set against a bleak city backdrop, where the theme of fate overshadows any chance of escape.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific combination of a high-intensity, gritty urban mood, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a straightforward narrative arc focused on a fatalistic 'brotherly' bond. The unifying experience is the feeling of watching a train wreck in slow motion, driven by unwavering loyalty.

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As Tears Go By Summary

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As Tears Go By Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in As Tears Go By

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More About As Tears Go By

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Similar Movies to As Tears Go By

Discover movies like As Tears Go By that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.