response to the reading and film

Chungking Express contains a number of memorable and striking scenes related to the theme of loneliness and isolation in an urban environment of Hong Kong. The scene with Cop 223 turned out the most striking scene in Chungking Express for me. The beginning of the scene is memorable indeed – view of the sinister dark blue skies moving slowly right before the dawn is beautifully combined with the rhythms of relaxing jazz music. The character of Cop 223 appears on the screen jogging and immediately informs the viewer that he was born at 6 am and already spent twenty-five years on this planet. The monologue of the character cannot be defined as a striking conversation, yet it had an unforgettable effect on me. I liked the idea that a young man decides to celebrate his twenty-fifth birthday not in traditional way and chooses to go jogging instead. It seems that he is getting rid not only of excess water in his body, but also of all his bad memories, impressions, and experiences.

The moment when the young policeman is checking the pager despite knowing no one will call him today is particularly impressive since it reveals an immense loneliness of the boy. The scene when the rain starts and the jogger gets wet sitting alone on the bench and breathing heavily with the sad music in the background is so sad and hopeless that it made me really compassionate about the boy. Moreover, when he decides to leave the pager and it suddenly rings, the answerphone informs that the Brigitte Lin character wishes him a happy birthday. The man seems so excited that he fervently promises to remember that woman all his life, which is a culminating expression of his grief and loneliness in this world. If I had to develop a final paper based on this and other scenes from Chungking Express, I would choose the topic of immense loneliness of young people who live in a big city full of other people yet fail to find close friends and, as a result, suffer from isolation.

Reduced thesis

In a number of his movies, including Chungking Express, Wong Kar-wai explores the theme of immense loneliness of people of various backgrounds who live in urban environment yet feel themselves isolated and struggle to find happiness.

Exam Questions

How would you describe isolation as depicted by Wong Kar-wai in the films set in big cities? Do the characters always suffer from loneliness or accept it as a necessary prerequisite for their independence and happiness?