花樣年華
"Feel the heat, keep the feeling burning, let the sensation explode."
In the Mood for Love - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
It is a restless moment. She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away.
— Opening Title Card
Context:
This quote appears on screen at the very beginning of the film, setting the emotional stage for the narrative that is about to unfold.
Meaning:
This opening text establishes the central theme of the film: missed opportunities and unspoken feelings. It immediately sets a tone of longing and hesitation that defines the entire relationship between Su and Chow, foreshadowing their ultimate inability to act on their love.
He remembers those vanished years. As though looking through a dusty window pane, the past is something he could see, but not touch. And everything he sees is blurred and indistinct.
— Closing Title Card
Context:
This text is shown at the very end of the film, after Chow has whispered his secret into the wall at Angkor Wat, providing a final, poignant reflection on the nature of his memories.
Meaning:
This closing statement encapsulates the film's exploration of memory. It reinforces the idea that the past, while accessible in thought, is forever out of reach. It perfectly describes Chow's final state of mind—living with the beautiful but hazy and untouchable memories of his time with Su.
In the old days, if someone had a secret they didn't want to share... they went up a mountain, found a tree, carved a hole in it, and whispered the secret into the hole. Then they covered it with mud. And leave the secret there forever.
— Chow Mo-wan
Context:
Chow shares this story with his friend Ah Ping before he travels to Angkor Wat. It foreshadows the film's final, symbolic act at the temple.
Meaning:
This quote introduces the ancient ritual that Chow later adopts to deal with his unexpressed love for Su. It speaks to the burden of carrying a powerful secret and the deep human need for catharsis and a way to preserve something sacred and painful without having to speak it aloud to another person.
I didn't know married life would be so complicated. When you're single, you are only responsible to yourself. Once you're married, doing well on your own is not enough.
— Su Li-zhen Chan
Context:
Su says this to Chow during one of their conversations where they reflect on their lives and what might have been if they hadn't married.
Meaning:
This line reveals Su's disillusionment with marriage and the weight of responsibility she feels. It reflects the societal expectations placed upon married individuals at the time and highlights the loss of personal freedom that both she and Chow experience, which contributes to their shared sense of entrapment.