Chungking Express (1994)

Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express (1994) is a cult classic of world cinema, known for its dreamy atmosphere, fragmented storytelling, and explorations of love, loneliness, and fleeting connections in a bustling city. The film is divided into two distinct but thematically connected stories, both set in Hong Kong, both revolving around love lost and found.

Detailed Summary

Story One: Cop 223 and the Woman in the Blonde Wig

The first story follows He Qiwu, also known as Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who is heartbroken after his girlfriend May breaks up with him. He clings to the idea of her return, buying canned pineapples with expiration dates of May 1st—symbolizing his deadline for moving on.

Meanwhile, a mysterious woman in a blonde wig (Brigitte Lin) is entangled in a drug smuggling scheme that goes wrong. She and Cop 223 cross paths in a bar. They spend the night together—not in a romantic way, but as two lonely souls sharing quiet company.

The story ends with Cop 223 realizing that his obsession with May has expired just like the pineapples. He finds a bittersweet closure, ready to step forward, while the blonde woman disappears from his life.

Story Two: Cop 663 and Faye

The second half shifts focus to Cop 663 (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), who is dealing with his breakup with an air hostess girlfriend. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Faye (Faye Wong), a quirky, free-spirited worker at a fast-food stall.

When the air hostess leaves a letter (and apartment key) with Faye, the young woman begins secretly entering Cop 663’s apartment while he’s away—tidying up, rearranging things, and even replacing items. These acts symbolize her subtle way of caring for him, though he is oblivious.

As Cop 663 gradually notices the changes in his life, his loneliness softens. The story culminates in a quiet, tender moment when he and Faye finally connect more openly, suggesting the possibility of love, though nothing is explicitly guaranteed.

Movie Ending

The film ends with an ambiguous yet hopeful conclusion. Cop 663 discovers that Faye has gone traveling to pursue her dream of being a flight attendant, leaving him behind. Months later, she returns, no longer the fast-food worker he first met, but someone who has grown and followed her desires. In the closing scene, they stand together in the snack bar as Cop 663 hands her a new set of apartment keys—this time suggesting not intrusion, but invitation.

Unlike a typical romantic film where love is sealed with certainty, Chungking Express leaves the ending open-ended. Will they become a couple? Wong Kar-wai doesn’t give us the answer. Instead, he emphasizes the fleeting yet transformative power of human connection. The ending mirrors the film’s central theme: love is often temporary, but it changes us in ways that endure.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Chungking Express does not include any post-credits scenes. The story concludes before the credits, consistent with Wong Kar-wai’s elliptical storytelling style.

Type of Movie

This film is a romantic drama with strong elements of art-house cinema, blending romance, comedy, and existential melancholy. It’s also considered part of the Hong Kong New Wave movement of the 1990s.

Cast

• Takeshi Kaneshiro as Cop 223 (He Qiwu)
• Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Cop 663
• Brigitte Lin as The Woman in the Blonde Wig
• Faye Wong as Faye
• Valerie Chow as The Flight Attendant (ex-girlfriend of Cop 663)

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack is one of the most memorable aspects of the film. Instead of a traditional score, Wong Kar-wai uses pop songs and eclectic tracks to set the tone. Key pieces include:

• California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & the Papas (Faye’s anthem)
• Dreams by Faye Wong (a Cantonese cover of The Cranberries’ song)
• “What a Difference a Day Makes” by Dinah Washington
  Music here is less about background atmosphere and more about character psychology—it represents longing, dreams, and repetition in daily life.

Filming Locations

The movie was shot in Hong Kong, primarily around:

• Chungking Mansions, a chaotic shopping and lodging complex that reflects Hong Kong’s multicultural vibrancy.
• Midnight Express snack bar, a real food stall used as Cop 663’s regular spot.
  The cramped, neon-lit streets add to the movie’s claustrophobic yet intoxicating energy, grounding the love stories in an urban setting where anonymity and intimacy coexist.

Awards and Nominations

• Won Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Tony Leung) at the 1995 Hong Kong Film Awards.
• Received international acclaim at film festivals, solidifying Wong Kar-wai’s reputation globally.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Wong Kar-wai famously wrote the script on the fly; the film was shot in just 23 days as a way to take a break from editing his other movie, Ashes of Time.
• Much of Faye’s character was improvised; her free-spirited energy comes from Wong encouraging her to simply “be herself.”
• The cinematography, handled by Christopher Doyle, relied heavily on handheld cameras and step-printing techniques, creating the dreamy, blurred motion visuals.

Inspirations and References

The film draws inspiration from:

• The French New Wave, particularly Godard, for its fragmented storytelling.
• Wong Kar-wai’s fascination with urban alienation in Hong Kong.
• Pop culture, music, and the fleeting nature of modern relationships.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Wong Kar-wai shot several variations of interactions between Cop 663 and Faye, but many were left on the cutting room floor to keep the film’s open-ended tone. There is no widely released alternate ending, but the director’s improvisational style suggests multiple variations existed during production.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book. However, Wong Kar-wai often writes prose-style treatments before shooting, and parts of Chungking Express were later adapted into short literary pieces.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Cop 223 buying cans of pineapple with May 1st expiration dates.
• The bar encounter between Cop 223 and the blonde woman.
• Faye dancing to California Dreamin’ in the snack bar.
• Cop 663 discovering his apartment mysteriously “changed.”

Iconic Quotes

• Cop 223: “Every day, we brush past so many other people. People we may never meet or people who may become close friends.”
• Cop 663: “Love is all a matter of timing. It’s no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The repeated use of expiration dates mirrors the theme of relationships having a shelf life.
• Cop 223’s jogging symbolizes his attempt to outrun heartbreak.
• Faye’s constant playing of California Dreamin’ reflects her desire to escape Hong Kong for somewhere freer.

Trivia

• Quentin Tarantino loved the film so much that he distributed it in the U.S. through his “Rolling Thunder Pictures” label.
• Brigitte Lin retired from acting after this movie, making it her last screen appearance.
• Wong Kar-wai originally planned three stories, but cut one and turned it into his next film, Fallen Angels (1995).

Why Watch?

Because Chungking Express is not just a movie—it’s a mood. It’s a portrait of urban loneliness, fleeting love, and the strange beauty of missed connections. If you’ve ever fallen in love with someone you barely knew, or if you’ve felt the ache of loneliness in a crowded city, this film will speak to you.

Director’s Other Movies

• Days of Being Wild (1990)
• Ashes of Time (1994)
• Fallen Angels (1995)
• Happy Together (1997)
• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• 2046 (2004)

Recommended Films for Fans

• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• Fallen Angels (1995)
• Happy Together (1997)
• Lost in Translation (2003)
• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Her (2013)