2046
He was a writer, He thought he wrote about the future but it really was the past. In his novel, a mysterious train left for 2046 every once in a while. Everyone who went there had the same intention … to recapture their lost memories. It was said that in 2046, nothing ever changed. Nobody knew for sure if it was true, because nobody who went there had ever come back – except for one. He was there. He chose to leave. He wanted to change.
Duc Tran recently told me to watch this film and knowing his impeccable taste, when I passed the PCG and it was showing I just had to pop in. I’m not used to Asian films which don’t involve martial arts (Enter the Dragon) and arn’t incredibly violent (Old Boy, Izo, Ichi) so this was a refreshing change. The film is foremost an arthouse piece rather than a Hong Kong flick. Vivid colours and the sexiest Ziyi Zhang has ever been, taking long indulgent puffs of a cigarettes while staring into the midst. I really am addicted to pretty girls smoking. Not the exasperated, ‘I really need this nicotine’?, puffs which so encapsulates the average teenage smoker, and so giving smoking such a bad rap; but that sexy, erotic puff. Ziyi Zhang may not be that pale thin girl with eyes forlorn but she is something.
The film seemed to borrow more from Blade Runner (‘All these memories will be lost, like tears in rain’) and Kubrick rather than a typical Asian script. I’m looking forward to seeing ‘In the Mood for Love’?, His previous film.
Themes of the film mostly revolved around unrequited love and the absence of closure. Most people know my horrid adoration for a girl names Stef. I’m seemingly stuck in purgatory with her, not being able to quench my thirst for her, nor hating her like i should. I guess i should have acted sooner rather than let it become so stale, stagnant.
When i got to the Pub I followed the formalities and wished the girl a happy birthday while brooding for Stef and being rather amicable to her boyfriend. As the night wore on I didn’t know how to keep my cool. As with most situations like this, alcohol becomes your partner; as it was only an hour to closing time, i hurriedly drank up.
After getting so tanked up I felt there was nothing I could do other than equal my physical state with my mental state. Most people who know me when i’m in that mood, know that i’m abusive and annoying. The only way for the torment to end is to punch me, it isn’t like i’m oblivious to that fact. Knowing that i shouldn’t start on her boyfriend, a weedy twat with a pink shirt, for fear of retribution, i instead started on the gay guy. No matter what he wouldn’t fight me. Much to my disappointment. I instead settled on pestering the short kid. The longer he went without punching me the more annoying i grew. I started stroking his face for fuck sake.
To make matters worse, she was trying to convince me to go out with her best friend who apparently thought i was a bit of something. In trying to justify not going out I stated that ‘Even if I fuck her i’ll just pretend she’s you.’? It all went downhill from there.
Returning home, I decided to leave ‘2046′? and called up Stef. I went in circles but convinced myself that we couldn’t see each other any more. I think i needed convincing more than her. I put it in letter and i’ll pluck up the courage to send it tonight.
Steven. ITMFL is an amazig film. I in turn want to se 2046, but that is more because I haven’t had a Faye Wong fix for a long time (since A Chinese Odyssey in fact) and Zhang Ziyi just breaks my heart each time i se her (the last time was in the truly overated House of the Flyig Daggers).