2046 (film)

2046 is a film by Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai that explores his response to the return of the administration of Hong Kong to China by Britain. It forms the final part of a loose trilogy, featuring several characters that previously appeared in Wong Kar Wai movies Days of Being Wild and In The Mood For Love. The film is largely set in 1960's Hong Kong and in the futuristic fictional world created by the main character, writer Chow Mo Wan and does not mention the handover directly, instead exploring the issues of a changing world, memory and nostalgia through the romantic relationships of Chow.

Background

The film 2046 thematically draws together many themes and characters that had previously appeared in Wong Kar Wai's oeuvre. It also focuses on the administrative handover of Hong Kong to China from Britain in 1997. Part of the terms of the handover involved keeping the legal and administrative systems of the Hong Kong for fifty years. The year 2046 is the last year this will apply. This film explores the director's response to the question: could anyone ever promise that nothing will change?

The number 2046 also appeared in the related film In The Mood For Love as the hotel room number of Chow Mo Wan (the central character of this film).

Over the closing credits of film, multilingual news clips discussing the handover of Hong Kong back to China and the promise that "nothing would change for fifty years" can be heard over the film's main five-note theme.

Music Score and Musical References

The original music featured in this film was composed and arranged by Shigeru Umebayashi and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The five note theme recurs in several variations: with percussion, as a rumba, and as a polonaise.

The film soundtrack also includes several songs which appeared in other films or from the 1960's. These musical references identify the characters and their place in the non-linear narrative.

The film's opening credits run over the theme song "Decision" by Zbigniew Preisner, which featured in the Polish film A Short Film About Killing.

Perfidia by Xavier Cugat represents the character of Mimi / Lulu, as it also did when she previously appeared in Days of Being Wild.

Siboney by Connie Francis represents Bai Ling.

Dark Chariot and Sisyphos at Work by Peer Raben represent the relationship between Chow and Bai Ling, as well as a background to his scenes going home in a taxi.

Casta Diva from the opera Norma, sung by Angela Gheorghieu, features as a song highlighting the relationship between Jing Wen and her father, the hotel owner. An opera lover, Jing Wen's father plays Casta Diva on very loud to conceal the arguments he has with daughter over her love affair.

Adagio by Secret Garden represents the romance between Jing Wen and her boyfriend, as well as the androids that the same actors portray in the fictional 2046 train.

The Christmas Song performed by Nat King Cole and The Nat King Cole Trio plays during Christmas time in the film, as also appearing in the other films of the trilogy Days of Being Wild and In The Mood For Love.