Aesthetically, Wong Kar-wai’s films are always my
favorites – they inhabit a strange, ultra-saturated dream world that’s unlike
any other. The color palates, the art direction, the cinematography, the
editing all layer on top of each other creating a frenzied cinematic universe
that almost flaunts its artificiality.
Chungking Express is split into two love stories. The first features Brigitte Lin playing an unnamed drug dealer who has a brief affair with a police officer:
She wears the same uniform throughout the film, navigating the seedy underbelly of the Hong Kong nightlife wearing a tan raincoat and bright red sunglasses (she doesn't know if it will rain or be sunny), pistol stowed neatly in her cream handbag. Her stiff blonde wig is a nod to the titular character in John Cassavetes' Gloria.
The second features Faye Wong as Faye, a young girl working at her family's fast-food restaurant dreaming of California and adventure. (She also has a brief love affair with a police officer).
In comparison, Faye's wardrobe is much brighter (and most of her story takes place during the daytime, unlike the first half of the film). Lots of blues, yellows, and whites reflect a lighter, more youthful energy - perfect for a young dreamer acting out an imaginary love affair with stranger.
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