Happy Together (1997)
"Chun gwong cha sit" (original title)

Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong and take to the road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift. A disillusioned Yiu-Fai starts working at a... See full summary »

Director:

Kar Wai Wong

Writer:

Kar Wai Wong

Stars:

Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Chen Chang

6 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Leslie Cheung	...	Ho Po-wing
Tony Leung Chiu Wai	...	Lai Yiu-fai
Chen Chang	...	Chang
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gregory Dayton	...	Lover
Shirley Kwan	...	(scenes cut)

Storyline

Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong and take to the road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift. A disillusioned Yiu-Fai starts working at a tango bar to save up for his trip home. When a beaten and bruised Po-Wing reappears, Yiu-Fai is empathetic but is unable to enter a more intimate relationship. After all, Po-Wing is not ready to settle down. Yiu-Fai now works in a Chinese restaurant and meets the youthful Chang from Taiwan. Yiu-Fai's life takes on a new spin, while Po-Wing's life shatters continually in contrast.

---

Plot Keywords:

bar | argentina | restaurant | tango | tango bar | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Details

Country:

Hong Kong Japan South Korea

Language:

Mandarin Cantonese Spanish

Release Date:

30 May 1997 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Happy Together

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$153,096 (USA) (14 November 1997)

Gross:

$187,508 (USA) (21 November 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Block 2 Pictures, Jet Tone Production, Prénom H Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Leung Chiu Wai was unaware that his character does boxing. Kar Wai Wong made Chiu Wai take boxing lessons and later filmed fight scenes that were cut from the final film. Wong said Chiu Wai's performance was improved because of the energy he had from boxing.

---

Goofs

Before Fai push starts the old car, the engine has already started while it is standing still.

---

Quotes

Lai Yiu-fai: Turns out that lonely people are all the same.

---

Crazy Credits

In some prints, Jacques Picoux (the French subtitle translator) is listed twice in a row in the closing credits.

---

Connections

Featured in Especial Cannes: 50 Anos de Festival (1997)

---

Soundtracks

"Milonga for 3"
by Astor Pataleon Piazzolla

User Reviews

"Imagine me and you...so Happy Together"

Well this is certainly one of my absolute favorite movies ever.When I first saw it about six years ago I loved it,and still do.This movie is just so beautiful and emotional it's incredible.The cinematography is very inventive and different.I love the different uses of black and white footage and the colours in this movie.

Two Chinese gay men travel to Buenos Aires and are planning to visit the Iguazu falls before returning to Hong Kong,but they never seem to get there...together anyway. The city of Buenos Aires seems so big,energetic and full of life but also sometimes very lonely and cold. There are feelings of joy,love,affection,loneliness,jealousy and an overall sadness in the whole thing,it makes me feel sad just thinking about it. This is really a story of two people in a typical love/hate,on/off relationship.And it really doesn't matter if you are gay or straight or whatever.These are themes anyone can relate to.But if you are very prejudiced you may not like it.

The actors are absolutely incredible in their roles as well. Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung make you really feel the affection their characters still have for each other...and of course all the negative feelings too. This is not a plot driven movie at all,but more like a series of snapshots in the life of a couple on the verge of a final breakdown.The end of their relationship is unavoidable but they still cling to their love until it's too late to go back.It's a very emotionally driven movie and the sad but sweet mood created is the most important and memorable thing in the movie for me. The music also seems to fit the film like it was specifically written for it.There is some Frank Zappa and some fantastic Argentinian tango and of course the very fitting ending theme song Happy Together.Now this is how you make a movie about a love coming to an end!Watch and learn Hollywood ; )