In the Mood for Love

In 1962, Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen, two Shanghainese expatriates, settle into adjoining apartments in British Hong Kong. Both of them are grappling with the emotional strain of having absent spouses who are often caught up in their demanding careers.

Their living situation is complicated by the intrusive nature of their landlady, Mrs. Suen, and their lively mahjong-playing neighbors. This community offers a mix of warmth and distraction, but Chow and Su still find themselves mostly alone as they navigate their respective loneliness.

Chow and Su’s lives take a dramatic turn when they uncover that their spouses are having an affair. This shocking revelation leads them to forge an unexpected bond, as they unite in their desire to figure out how the infidelity began and to distract themselves from their pain.

In a bid to cope with their new reality, Chow invites Su to collaborate on a martial arts serial project. This creative undertaking marks the beginning of a deepening friendship, as they spend time together, sharing both ideas and personal stories.

As their work progresses, Chow books a secluded hotel room for them to focus on writing without distractions. In this intimate setting, their initial camaraderie begins to bloom into romantic feelings, though both are hesitant to acknowledge this developing connection.

An opportunity arises for Chow to take a new job in Singapore, and he reaches out to Su with hopes that she will accompany him. The prospect of leaving Hong Kong together breathes new life into their budding romance, but their timing is tragically off.

Su arrives to see Chow off, but tragically, she is too late to accompany him to Singapore. This missed connection becomes a poignant moment in their evolving relationship, marking a turn in their paths that will linger with them both.

In Singapore, Chow shares a reflection with a friend about fond memories from Hong Kong, including childhood secrets whispered into hollows of trees. This nostalgia emphasizes the unresolved feelings he harbors for Su and the significance of their lost moments.

Unexpectedly, Su arrives at Chow's apartment in Singapore but remains silent when she calls. This moment highlights the longing between them, subtly implied through a cigarette butt with lipstick that Chow discovers later—a bittersweet reminder of Su's presence.

Three years slip by as Chow and Su continue to live separate lives yet remain tethered by their past experiences. During this time, Su seeks out their landlady, Mrs. Suen, inquiring about renting her old apartment, showcasing her wish to return to familiar grounds.

Chow returns to Hong Kong, hoping to reconnect with his former landlords, the Koos. While inquiring about them, he learns that a woman and her child now live in the apartment next to Su's old place, leaving Chow with unresolved feelings about his past with Su.

Amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Chow finds himself in Cambodia. It is there, at the iconic Angkor Wat, that he reflects deeply on his and Su's relationship and the emotional burdens they've both carried over the years.

While at Angkor Wat, Chow participates in a symbolic act of healing by whispering his secrets into a hollow in the historic wall. Sealing the hollow with mud signifies his desire to bury the unspoken feelings he has long harbored for Su, a ritual of closure in a way.