History Film / ChungkingExpress

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chungking.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chungkingexpressbluraymc4.jpg]]

!! Contains examples of:

** What happens when you neglect to pay the electricity bill? Break out the candles!* DoggedNiceGuy: Cop #223 can't take a hint if his life depended on it.

* DoggedNiceGuy: Cop #223 can't take a hint if his life depended on it.

* RealityEnsues:
** Eating 30 cans of pineapples is not going to do wonders for your stomach.
** What happens when you neglect to pay the electricity bill? Break out the candles!

''Chungking Express'' (重慶森林) is a movie directed by Creator/WongKarWai and released in 1994. Creator/QuentinTarantino loved it so much that he signed a deal with [[Creator/MiramaxFilms Miramax]] to start his own releasing company specifically to distribute the movie in the US.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The only common elements in this film is the Midnight Express, the owner's continuous attempts to set up cops with his employees, and to a lesser extent, Faye herself. In fact, Qiwu's introduction of Faye immediately kicks off the second arc.

* RealityEnsues: Eating 30 cans of pineapples is not going to do wonders for your stomach.

** Earlier, a girl named May (not Hiwu's ex, the Midnight Express employee) left her job at the bar with another guy and is replaced by Faye. Later on, the Midnight Express owner eventually tells Cop #663 that May has come back and is working for him again after Faye leaves, and is also presumably single again.

** Earlier, a girl named May (not the ex, the other one) left her job at the bar with another guy and is replaced by Faye. Later on, the bar owner eventually tells Cop #663 that May has come back and is working for him again after Faye leaves, and is also presumably single again.

* LongHairIsFeminine: We first see Faye from behind and the cop assumes she is a man because of her short hair.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The film's location establishes this as in Tsim Sha Tsui as evidenced by the black-and-yellow livery of the subway station that bears its name (where the TrainEscape takes place). It is also the location of the Chungking Mansions, of which this movie is named after. However, there are two inaccuracies of the setting. Firstly, Cop #663's apartment is established to be in the area as it is near the Midnight Express, but the Central Mid-Levels escalator is shown as next to the apartment, which is in the Central District, across Victoria Harbour. Secondly, there are planes flying overhead; Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport was open at around this time, and the flight path for any plane taking off or leaving this airport will not take it over Tsim Sha Tsui.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The only common elements in this film is the Midnight Express, and to a lesser extent, Faye itself. In fact, Qiwu's introduction of Faye immediately kicks off the second arc.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: The only common elements in this film is the Midnight Express, and to a lesser extent, Faye itself. In fact, Qiwu's instruction of Faye immediately kicks off the second arc.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The film's location establishes this as in Tsim Sha Tsui as evidenced by the subway station (and the name of the Chungking Mansions, of which this movie is named after), but there are two inaccuracies of the setting. Firstly, Cop #663's apartment is established to be in the area as it is near the Midnight express, but the Central Mid-Levels escalator is shown as next to the apartment, which is in the Central District, across Victoria Harbour. Secondly, there are planes flying overhead; Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport was open at around this time, and the flight path for any plane leaving this airport will not take it over Tsim Sha Tsui, regardless if the plane is landing or taking off.

* BottomlessMagazines: Averted. Six shots are fired by Brigitte Lin's character. She plugs 2 guys going after her, each with two bullets, then reserves the last two for the drug dealer she has been working for.

* BrickJoke: Earlier, the girl named May left her job at the bar with another guy and is replaced by Faye. Later on, the bar owner eventually tells Cop #663 that May has come back and is working for him again, and is also presumably single again.

* FailedASpotCheck: Cop #663 really did not notice a large figure hidden under a towel.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch

* TheDanza: Faye Wong as Faye.

* HongKong: Arguably the main character of the movie is the city itself.

''Chungking Express'' (重慶森林) is a movie directed by Creator/WongKarWai and released in 1994. Creator/QuentinTarantino loved it so much that he signed a deal with [[MiramaxFilms Miramax]] to start his own releasing company specifically to distribute the movie in the US.

* FemmeFatale: Brigitte Lin's character.

->''That was the closest we ever got - just 0.01 cm between us. Fifty-seven hours later, I fell in love with this woman.''

''Chungking Express'' (重慶森林) is a movie directed by WongKarWai and released in 1994. Creator/QuentinTarantino loved it so much that he signed a deal with Miramax to start his own releasing company specifically to distribute the movie in the US.

The movie can't be easily summarized, if only because it starts with one story, [[HalfwayPlotSwitch which it abandons on the way]] to continue with another. Essentially, each plot follows a Hong Kong cop and his strange romance with a woman they've just met, but the two ultimately differ in tone and conclusion. Arguably, rather than trying to tell a story, it is a depiction of the cramped, hectic, neurosis-inducing but strangely exciting contemporary life in the city.

-----------
!!Contains examples of:

* BigEater: The first cop eats his way through 30 cans of pineapple to get over his ex, and then several plates of miscellaneous food when Brigitte Lin is sleeping.

* EvenBeggarsWontChooseIt: When the first cop, who has been collecting pineapple cans with a May 1 peremption date in memory of his girlfriend dumping him, tries to give one to a beggar on the night of April 30, the beggar lobs it back at him. "It's past its sell-by date! you keep it!"

* DoggedNiceGuy: 223 can't take a hint if his life depended on it.
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Faye's short hair has grown long [[spoiler: when she returns as a stewardess]].
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Policeman 663 is only known by his badge number. (223 introduces himself at the beginning as He Qiwu.)
* {{Fetish}}: Policeman 663 has a thing for air hostesses.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Faye. Childlike, wacky mannerisms? Check. Idealistic and free-spirited to cop #663's broken heart and outward stuffed shirt? Check. Tendency towards petty crime? Check. Amazingly cute? Very much check.
* MaybeEverAfter: Brigitte Lin's character and the first cop. We never find out if they got anywhere but our last impression of Brigitte Lin is her wishing him a happy birthday over the answering machine - perhaps she was warming to him?
* NoNameGiven: We never learn the name of Brigitte Lin's character, or as mentioned, cop #663.

** In a flashback scene, we see his then-girlfriend do her safety instruction routine over the usual voice recording ("emergency exits are located at the front and back..."), while at his place and with her top off. It's an obvious turn-on for him.
* ShipperOnDeck: The store manager gives people advice about their love lives, and even hustles all the other employees away when #663 approaches so Faye will be alone with him.
* SleepCute: Cop 633 and Faye.
* StalkerWithACrush: Faye steals the second cop's house keys and sneaks into his flat. She makes a habit of moving his stuff around and buying him new things just to see whether he'll notice. She also inspects his bed with a magnifying glass for evidence of sexual activity.

* {{Tsundere}}: Faye is a Type A for Cop 633.

->''This is the kind of movie you'll relate to if you love film itself, rather than its surface aspects such as story and stars.''
-->-- '''RogerEbert'''

The movie can't be easily summarized, if only because it starts with one story, [[HalfwayPlotSwitch which it abandons on the way]] to continue with another. Arguably, rather than having a plot, it is a depiction of the cramped, hectic, neurosis-inducing but strangely exciting life in contemporary Hong Kong.

''Chungking Express'' (重慶森林) is a movie directed by WongKarWai and released in 1994. QuentinTarantino loved it so much that he signed a deal with Miramax to start his own releasing company specifically to distribute the movie in the US.

* SorryILeftTheBGMOn: The first usage of "California Dreamin'," and the second usage of "What a Difference a Day Made."

* TheNameless: We never learn the name of Brigitte Lin's character, or as mentioned, cop #663.