The movie "2046" depicts the life of a man, Chow Mo Wan, as he struggles to make a living through his work as a writer. Chow Mo Wan has a very active social life, to enable him to make a living through his writing. He has many affairs, but does not believe in permanent romantic relationships. This movie describes how the events of his life contributed to his novel, 2046. His relationships with women become the focus of his life as he has many relationships but cannot seem to settle down. His timing always seems to be off. Chow Mo Wan, through his writing, realizes why his life seems so hollow. This movie, 2046, explores Chow Mo Wan, his life, his thoughts, and his interactions, and how they are all related.
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The review of this Movie prepared by Nora Levy
Chow Mo Wan is a male writer of lurid romance novels trying to move on with his life after a failed romance. He is writing a futuristic sci fi novel called 2046 about a mysterious train that leaves for 2046, a place where people go to recapture lost memories. In his narrative, 2046 is a place no one ever returns from. And yet, his main character is the only one to return from 2046.
While he is writing it, he takes up residence in a hotel, demanding to stay in room 2046. While there, he starts an affair with a prostitute named Bai Ling who lives in the room next to him. She falls in love with him, but he sees other women and won't commit to her. She breaks it off with him and begins dating other men to make him jealous. But he doesn't mind and continues his affairs with various women.
Chow continues to stroll through life with no meaningful relationships until he meets the daughter of his landlord, a woman who is heartbroken because her father won't let her marry a Japanese man. She too is a writer, and they begin to share stories and write together. She still pines for her Japanese boyfriend, and even as Chow falls in love with her, he agrees to secretly harbor letters for her back and forth between them.
She finally leaves for Japan to marry her boyfriend against her father's wishes, but by then, her father realizes how foolish he's been, and goes to their wedding. Chow has unwittingly let the woman he loved get away.
Once again, he has affairs with various women. Until, years later, he comes into contact again with Bai Ling. They have both grown up and changed a bit. Can they reconnect? Can Chow offer her the love and monogamy he was once uncapable of?
The review of this Movie prepared by Sarah Bastin
