Chungking Express

I always find it fun comparing foreign films to the blockbuster "hits" we have in America. Chungking Express, directed by Wong Kar-wai uses cinematic elements in a very fast paced and interesting way for the first narrative, suddenly, rapid cuts and manipulation of visual motion take become less prevalent in the second narrative. This is clearly done purposefully; each type of editing forms the moods for the specific narrative.

The first narrative involves chase scenes, gun fights, and drugs, thus the editing mirrors the intensity of the action. Rapid cuts during the chase scenes allow only brief glance at who the people are and their location. This recreates the feelings of the protagonist as he is, mentally and physically, going through the same disruption. The image is blurred and, it seems, in some hybrid state of slow motion and fast motion. This furthers confusion in the narrative and the mind of the audience. I feel this relates back to the themes of the first character Qiwu. He seems both in a state of hating his lost love and desiring nothing more than to have her back; it is reflected in the way the editing elements and cinematographic elements work in unison. Both techniques put together create a confusing sequence. Qiwu does not know what to do with himself without his lover May, and this is exaggerated by the harshness of his job. The audience easily relates to Qiwu because they see him in both difficult/challenging mental and physical states. Much of the reason for the audience's adept understanding of Qiwu comes from the visual, instead of the audio.

The second narrative slows down quite a bit, this could be because it is now a story about a man who falls into love instead of out of it. There is not really any mixed fast and slow motion, and there are no cuts that are extremely rapid. The story has become much more relaxed because of this change in techniques. This eases the audience's minds and cools down the rapid pace of information. I feel this allows the audience to analyze the emotions and subtle looks that characters give.

This style of separating sections of the story by clearly different cinematic techniques is very effective and helps the audience understand that there are now two different narratives working together in the same single film.