2046: A different kind of romantic film

Drawing inspiration from the Oriental Hotel he once lived in, Chow writes a story about a mysterious woman who lives in room 2046. The story also tells of a place where people travel to recapture lost memories, and he is the first one to return from it.

2046 was a staggering cinematic spectacle presenting a mind-blowing tale of loss, jealousy, love and desperation, but doing so in unparalleled fashion. At its heart is Chow, a man haunted by a woman he loved but who left him. He spends a good deal of the film trying to find someone to replace her (including exotic beauty Zhang Ziyi) but finds that he cannot, nor will he be able to. To him, 2046 (the apartment as well as the year in which his story is set), was a beautiful state of mind filled with joyous memories that were next to impossible to leave. But that was not revealed by having Chow ramble aimlessly on with cheesy melodramatic dialogue. Through the glimpses of the universe he created in his story, the audience was shown Chow’s torment. Unable to truly express how he felt about those women he faced in the real world (as well as those in the story), he comes to realize he had love once, but will never find it again. 2046 is light years ahead of other romantic dramas in not only story and characters, but cinematic expressiveness as well.

While the plot of the film, with its non-linear storytelling, was definitely a challenge to the audience if they were able to stick with it, 2046 was something of a distinctive film going experience.

Grade: A

Chloe in the Afternoon: It's okay if a film has subtitles, really.

When someone says to you, “hey, there’s this great French film you should check out,” nine times out of ten you’ll look at them as if they’re asking you to watch C-Span for a couple of hours and politely decline that invitation. But if they are telling you to watch Chloe in the Afternoon, an open-minded approach is suggested.

Frederic is a happily married man who can’t resist engaging in harmless flirting every once in a while. However when he runs into an old acquaintance named Chloe and starts spending afternoons with her, their rekindled friendship turns into a longing that could destroy his happily married life.

Writer/director Eric Rohmer was able to craft an absolutely stunning and perceptive morality tale centering on human romantic relationships, one that was not afraid to tackle questions like; “how can a man love only one woman” or “is it possible to love more than one woman at the same time,” questions that typical Hollywood films tend to gloss over with predictable plot twist or unbelievably silly compromises in story. Frederic (the man torn between his wife and the title beauty) had a life and set of circumstances which wavered a bit on the male fantasy side at points, but it was his constant re-examination of life and relationships with both his wife Helene and Chloe which made him easy to associate with, and also human.

French New Wave films from the 1970’s, like Chole in the Afternoon, might not be everyone’s cup of tea, specifically because they are not like The Break Up or any of those million other crappy romantic films that overrated Hollywood actresses like Jennifer Aniston put out. So those expecting cutesy endings or loveable best friends of the main character delivering oh so subtle sexual quips might be disappointed that there are none to be found. The honesty with which Frederic and Chloe discussed polygamy and monogamy might have seemed shocking to some, but it was that candor which made Chloe in the Afternoon a raw experience and a worthwhile venture into the meaning of love, happiness and companionship.

Grade: A