Millenium Mambo-Theater

Millennium Mambo (2001), Dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien

A friend of mine was very excited for me to see this film. "You'll love it," he espoused. Perhaps I didn't love it as he does, or as much as he thought I would, but it was fantastic.

This film takes us into the lives of a troubled young couple, Vicky and Hao-hao. Hou guides us through the milestones in their relationship, but mixes them up as if recalling them at random. They are often recalled through voice-over narration, then quietly pop up later as you realize you are seeing the recollection first-hand, but always from Vicky's point of view.

Hou never judges his characters, or favors one over the other. It is merely the telling of a story. He also keeps the camera movements quiet, seeming to mimic the movements of someone sitting in the room with them, watching. Oftentimes, its only movement is back and forth. Simple. It tends to get somewhat claustrophobic because of this, but this also mimics the feeling of the characters as being "trapped" together.

Altogether, Hou paints a portrait of lives that are very complex, with no beginning or end. The characters meander in and out of the story, as if he is making the point to tell us that their lives are bigger and involve much more than a simple boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

A quiet, beautiful film. Only for those who are serious about great films.