Overview

Wong is considered part of the 1980s Second New Wave of Hong Kong filmmakers who take inspiration from the directors of the French New Wave. WKW is known for his elliptically plotted pieces that explore—in lush, cinematic scenes—themes of love, longing, isolation and the burden of memory with melancholy, often misfit characters. His style reveals a fascination with mood and texture over a more straightforward narrative approach; his films feature slow motion action scenes, distorted close-ups, and fight sequences shot from several disoriented angles. A sense of place figures prominently in his films; each has an urban backdrop, with myriad cultural influences, that assumes the importance of a character. He is also known for working many of the same actors film after film, such as the beautiful and glamorous Maggie Cheung, who he has helped make famous.   In this book Wong Kar Wai and writer John Power explore WKW’s oeuvre in the context of the location. After an opening critical and personal essay by Powers, the book is structured as 5 nights in 4 places—4 different areas of Hong Kong, which is where WKW has always lived and worked. The 5 nights will each include a conversation between Powers and WKW. The first night will be about Hong Kong, WKW’s life, and his first two films, 'As Tears Go By' and 'Days of Being Wild'; the next night will be 'Chunking Express' and 'Fallen Angels'; the next night will be 'Ashes of Time' and 'The Grandmaster'; then 'In the Mood for Love' and '2046'; and finally 'My Blueberry Nights' and WKW’s commercial work. Along the way, the texts will explore larger themes on questions of beauty and making films in China. 

Full Product Details

9780847846177

Table of Contents

Reviews

The highlight of [WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wei] for me is the superbly gorgeous photographs and film stills, some 250 in total, all neatly collected in this beautiful hard cover volume. . . the huge collection of film stills and photographs alone is worth the price of the book; the conversations with WKW give the reader additional insights into the visions of one the most exciting directors working in cinema today. My highest recommendations. -HalcyonRealms.com The essential coffee table book for the auteur's fans and aficionados. Wong Kar Wai's saturated images set to lush scores have created unforgettable, atmospheric tone poems that are lovingly captured in [WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai]. -INDULGE MAGAZINE

The highlight of [ WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wei ] for me is the superbly gorgeous photographs and film stills, some 250 in total, all neatly collected in this beautiful hard cover volume. . .the huge collection of film stills and photographs alone is worth the price of the book; the conversations with WKW give the reader additional insights into the visions of one the most exciting directors working in cinema today. My highest recommendations. - HalcyonRealms.com

The highlight of [WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wei] for me is the superbly gorgeous photographs and film stills, some 250 in total, all neatly collected in this beautiful hard cover volume. . . the huge collection of film stills and photographs alone is worth the price of the book; the conversations with WKW give the reader additional insights into the visions of one the most exciting directors working in cinema today. My highest recommendations."" -HalcyonRealms.com ""The essential coffee table book for the auteur's fans and aficionados. Wong Kar Wai's saturated images set to lush scores have created unforgettable, atmospheric tone poems that are lovingly captured in [WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai]."" -INDULGE MAGAZINE 

The highlight of [<i>WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wei</i>] for me is the <b>superbly gorgeous photographs and film stills</b>, some 250 in total, all neatly collected in this beautiful hard cover volume. . . the huge collection of film stills and photographs alone is worth the price of the book; <b>the conversations with WKW give the reader additional insights into the visions of one the most exciting directors working in cinema today. My highest recommendations</b>. -<i>HalcyonRealms.com</i> <b> The essential coffee table book for the auteur's fans and aficionados</b>. Wong Kar Wai's saturated images set to lush scores have created unforgettable, atmospheric tone poems that are lovingly captured in [<i>WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai</i>]. -<i>INDULGE MAGAZINE</i>

Author Information

Wong Kar Wai is a renowned Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker. Wong was the first Chinese director to win the Best Director Award of Cannes Film Festival (for Happy Together in 1997). Wong was the President of the Jury at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, which makes him the only Chinese person to preside over the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Wong was listed at number three on the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound Top Ten Directors list of modern times. In 2006, Wong accepted the National Order of the Legion of Honour: Knight (Highest Degree) from the French Government. In 2013, Wong accepted Order of Arts and Letters: Commander (Highest Degree) by the French Minister of Culture. In 2013 he won the Asian Film Award for Best Director for The Grandmaster. Wong owns the independent production company Jet Tone Films. John Power is a writer and film critic. Powers covers film and politics for Vogue and Vogue.com and is the pop culture and critic-at-large on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. He previously served for six years as the film critic. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Harper's BAZAAR, The Nation, Gourmet, The Washington Post, The New York Times and L.A. Weekly, where he spent twelve years as a critic and columnist. He is a former professor at Georgetown University.

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