Within In the Mood for Love Wong chose to transform an old hospital for British soldiers that was left vacant. He did so perhaps because both buildings resembled the type of buildings in the 1950s. Mr Chow and Mrs Chang may or may not have given sensual expression to their affair in room 2046. Within the movie the hotel room is never given a location or geographic location of where it’s located therefore it’s non-existent essentially. Room 2046 was originally rented by Mr Chow to pass time while writing his martial art stories and also waiting for Mrs Chang. The number “2046” is also a sign for both the future and the past. Strangely enough, the next film by Wong was named 2046 which can be related to the fictional, futuristic non-location concept he was trying to capture. With a unknown hotel room and a frustrated love affair, In the Mood for Love became a vessel for 2046’s obvious scenes which incorporated multiple styles.
The impermanence of the moment and the instant when change takes hold, are topics of endless fascination for Wong. A clear, even heartbreaking example in this film is when Mr Chow explains to Mrs Chang the feelings can creep up “just like that”. And just like that, their dead relationship turns into a story of an impossible love affair. In keeping with the present culture views and his own Wong underlines his sense that “love is a matter of timing”. And though his characters meet in the perfect orchestration of coincidence just at the right moment mistiming otherwise kills their encounter.
Geoffery StJulien 