Chungking Express - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is to overcome the pain of his breakup with his girlfriend, May. He clings to the hope that she might come back, and when that fails, he desperately seeks a new connection to fill the void of his loneliness.

Cop 223 begins as a heartsick and obsessive young man, unable to accept his breakup. He creates a ritual with the pineapple cans to give his grief a tangible form and deadline. His brief, platonic encounter with the mysterious woman in the blonde wig helps him break out of his self-pity. By the end of his story, after consuming all 30 cans of pineapple, he appears to reach a point of acceptance, realizing that love, like everything else, has an expiration date, and he is ready to move on.

Her motivation is survival. Betrayed by her boss, she is driven to navigate the treacherous criminal underworld of Hong Kong, reclaim her agency, and exact revenge.

This character remains enigmatic throughout her story. She operates in a dangerous criminal underworld, initially appearing cold and in control. After a smuggling operation fails and she is betrayed, she becomes a hunted figure. Her encounter with Cop 223 reveals a flicker of vulnerability beneath her tough exterior, as she allows herself a moment of rest in his company. Her arc culminates in her taking decisive, violent action to resolve her situation, after which she disappears, leaving only a birthday message for Cop 223, a small gesture of human connection.

Faye is motivated by a mix of romantic infatuation with Cop 663 and a deep-seated desire for personal freedom and experience, symbolized by her dream of going to California. She wants to connect with him, but also to define herself on her own terms.

Faye starts as a quirky, daydreaming snack bar employee who develops a secret crush on Cop 663. Initially passive, she acts on her feelings in a highly unconventional way by 'invading' his apartment and becoming a part of his life without his knowledge. This act of 'dream-walking' into his world is her way of connecting. When he finally asks her on a real date, she stands him up and leaves for California to pursue her own dreams, demonstrating a desire for independence. A year later, she returns as a confident flight attendant, ready to engage with him on more equal terms, having completed her own journey of self-discovery.

His motivation evolves from passively mourning his lost relationship to actively embracing the possibility of a new one. He is driven by a subconscious need to break free from his emotional inertia, a process that Faye's unusual actions catalyze.

Cop 663 is introduced as being in a state of quiet melancholy after his breakup, clinging to the memory of his ex. He is initially oblivious to the changes happening around him, both in his apartment and in Faye's feelings for him. As Faye secretly reorganizes his life, he slowly begins to emerge from his stupor, becoming more aware and open. Though their initial attempt at a date fails when she leaves, her actions have a profound effect on him. By the end, he has transformed, buying the snack bar and waiting for her, showing he has moved on from his past and is ready for a new future, wherever it may lead.