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Happy Together Details

1997 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 2721 members

HAPPY TOGETHER was re-written and re-conceived over and over again as they filmed on location in Argentina. It strained patience and health of Kar-Wai's loyal cast and crew, they even ran out of good film stock. But despite, or perhaps because of this long and difficult shoot, Kar-Wai and cinematographer Christopher Doyle have .. Read more

Starring Leslie Cheung, Kwok-Wing, Tony Leung, Chiu-Wai
Director Wong Kar-Wai
Genres Drama, Gay/Lesbian, World Cinema

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Happy Together

HAPPY TOGETHER was re-written and re-conceived over and over again as they filmed on location in Argentina. It strained patience and health of Kar-Wai's loyal cast and crew, they even ran out of good film stock. But despite, or perhaps because of this long and difficult shoot, Kar-Wai and cinematographer Christopher Doyle have produced a brilliant, intensely passionate, sexy and stylish cinematic gem. Kar-Wai won Best Director award for it at Cannes in 1997.
Ho (Leung) and his promiscuous lover Lai (Cheung) have run as far from Hong Kong as they can and now, short of cash, are stranded in cold Buenos Aires. They have a souvenir table lamp illustrating Iguazu Falls that they hoped to visit but can't afford to. They both want to go home now, Lai sleeps around perhaps to help him cope with the situation while Ho, more constructively takes unsavoury work as a doorman, cook and abattoir worker, kicking a football around with fellow workers to let off steam. The tensions and jealousies between them come to a head where Ho throws Lai out of the claustrophobic bedsit, only for him to come back pathetically with hands bandaged after some self-mutilation. Taking him in again they continue to play emotional games, but Ho resists the playful charms of Lai, knowing the relationship is over. He eventually reaches the Falls by himself but will he make it home unscathed

Starring Leslie Cheung, Kwok-Wing, Tony Leung, Chiu-Wai, Chang Chen
Director Wong Kar-Wai
Studio ARTIFICIAL EYE
Run time DVD: 1 hr 33 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama, Gay/Lesbian, World Cinema
Language DVD: Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 24 Nov 2003
Production year: 1997
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (5) of Happy Together

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    Director Wong Kar-Wai's reputation rests on his genius for combining audacious imagery with deceptively humane stories. But this adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel, The Buenos Aires Affair, is his least coherent or convincing film. The relationship between Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung, Hong Kong lovers on holiday in Argentina, is so destructive (their conversations are too accusatory and their actions overly selfish) that it's hard to empathise with either character. The switches from monochrome to colour are neatly judged and Wong's use of glowing shades and reflective surfaces is exemplary, but, ultimately, too much is sacrificed to the director's stylistic preoccupations.

    • Radio Times
  • "...Infinitely tantalising....Feelings captured in HAPPY TOGETHER linger with great, scratchy intensity..."

    • Sight and Sound
  • Most helpful member's review of Happy Together

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  • 32 out of 37 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Happy to watch this

    Why did I like this film so much? The meandering story, the switching from black and white to colour and a claustrophobic setting remained compelling because of the two great actors in the main roles. Perhaps I was won over because I love latin america and asia and this film brought the two together. Lke much of the directors work you are watching a small intimate story slowly unfold and you will either be captivated or bored in the first 10 minutes. I watched it twice.

  • Most recent members' review of Happy Together

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  • 32 out of 37 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Happy to watch this

    Why did I like this film so much? The meandering story, the switching from black and white to colour and a claustrophobic setting remained compelling because of the two great actors in the main roles. Perhaps I was won over because I love latin america and asia and this film brought the two together. Lke much of the directors work you are watching a small intimate story slowly unfold and you will either be captivated or bored in the first 10 minutes. I watched it twice.

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Rating breakdown

2,721 Member ratings
  • 100
246
  • 90
223
  • 80
409
  • 70
394
  • 60
446
  • 50
294
  • 40
237
  • 30
181
  • 20
191
  • 10
100

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