Days of Being Wild

Days of Being Wild

Year: 1990

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Wong Kar-wai

DramaRomanceCrimeMoving relationship storiesCaptivating relationships and charming romance

Yuddy, a Hong Kong playboy known for breaking girls’ hearts, tries to find solace and the truth after discovering the woman who raised him isn’t his mother.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Days of Being Wild yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Days of Being Wild (1990)

Trace every key event in Days of Being Wild (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Yuddy seduces Li-zhen

In 1960 Hong Kong, Yuddy uses his smooth-talking charm to win over Li-zhen, a South China AA box office attendant. He shows no interest in a serious relationship, leaving Li-zhen heartbroken when he moves on to others. This brief encounter sets Li-zhen up for a lingering ache and signals the instability of Yuddy's attachments.

1960 Hong Kong
2

Yuddy moves on to Mimi

After Li-zhen, Yuddy begins a relationship with cabaret dancer Mimi. Zeb is secretly drawn to Mimi as well, but his feelings are not returned. The shifting affections deepen the web of desire and rivalry around Yuddy.

1960 Hong Kong
3

Tension with Rebecca

Yuddy's adoptive mother Rebecca maintains a tense, protective presence and refuses to reveal his birth mother's identity for a long time. The unresolved origin becomes a quiet source of strain between them. This secrecy colors Yuddy's sense of belonging throughout the story.

1960s Hong Kong
4

Li-zhen and Tide form solace

Li-zhen finds solace in Tide, a policeman who runs his rounds near Yuddy's apartment and becomes a confidant. They share conversations about failed romances, family duties, and fragile dreams. Tide's steady presence offers Li-zhen a temporary anchor in a city that keeps moving around them.

early 1960s Hong Kong
5

Tide's mother dies; he leaves Hong Kong

Tide's mother dies, prompting him to leave Hong Kong and pursue life at sea as a sailor. He explains his dream and his obligation to his mother, choosing distance over staying in his police role. The departure creates a final separation that shapes Li-zhen's loneliness.

early 1960s
6

Birth mother revelation and Yuddy's departure

Rebecca relents and tells Yuddy that his birth mother lives in the Philippines. Motivated to seek his roots, Yuddy leaves for the Philippines, handing his car to Zeb without informing Mimi. The decision marks a decisive break from his past and sets his course toward an unknown family history.

early 1960s Hong Kong
7

Mimi resolves to follow

Distraught by Yuddy's departure, Mimi resolves to follow him to the Philippines to find him or uncover the truth. Her decision marks a leap toward a future shaped by pursuit rather than stability.

early 1960s Hong Kong
8

Zeb funds Mimi's trip

Zeb sells Yuddy's car to finance Mimi's journey and urges her to return if she can't find him. He demonstrates both affection and desperation through this sacrifice. Mimi heads toward the Philippines with renewed resolve.

early 1960s Hong Kong
9

Yuddy finds his mother's house; she refuses to see him

In the Philippines, Yuddy locates his mother's house, but she refuses to meet him, leaving him with silence where questions once existed. The rejection deepens his sense of isolation and fuels the rest of his risky journey. The moment seals his fate as he moves toward further danger.

early 1960s Philippines
10

Tide rescues Yuddy in the Philippines

Tide comes across a drunk Yuddy on the street and brings him to a hotel room, offering protection even when Yuddy does not recognize him. Their bond begins to form amid the chaos surrounding Yuddy's life in the Philippines. This rescue sets up the subsequent train escape and confession.

early 1960s Philippines
11

Train confrontation and escape

A fight over payment for a fake American passport erupts at a railway station, and Yuddy stabs a man. Tide intervenes and saves him, and they escape aboard a train. The incident underscores how quickly violence spirals out of control for Yuddy.

early 1960s Philippines - railway station
12

Remembering 16 April 1960

On the train, Tide asks Yuddy to recall what happened on 16 April 1960 at 3 p.m., a moment Yuddy had once asked Li-zhen to remember. Yuddy says he remembers but cautions Tide not to tell Li-zhen, hinting at a painful truth. The moment threads through the characters' memories as the story nears its end.

Philippines
13

Yuddy's death

Tide returns from a conversation with the train conductor to find Yuddy shot to death, ending his search with a sudden, fatal act. The tragedy closes a chapter of the film's fragile interconnected lives and leaves the others to grapple with the consequences. The death marks the story's turning from pursuit to memory.

early 1960s Philippines
14

Final montage and ambiguous ending

Mimi arrives in the Philippines, Li-zhen closes up a ticket stall, and a phone at a booth rings. The film ends with a shot of a slick young man smoking in a darkened room, leaving the audience with a haunting, open-ended sense of what comes next for the characters.

End Philippines and Hong Kong

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:02

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Days of Being Wild Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Days of Being Wild, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Days of Being Wild Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Days of Being Wild

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