Film Name: 旺角卡门 / As Tears Go By / 旺角卡門
Don’t get hung up on Wong Kar-wai’s signature style—this film has its own unique, raw charm.
Maggie Cheung’s gaze speaks volumes. Often, she doesn’t look at Andy Lau, yet communicates more than when she does. Whether at the subway station with the doctor or during that night in the hotel, every glance is meticulously crafted. Here, Maggie isn’t a goddess—she’s genuinely not conventionally beautiful—but her eyes carry an undeniable intensity.
Andy Lau’s swagger. In multiple showdowns with the triads, he consistently takes absolute control, striking with lightning speed. Swagger is like playing chess with someone who’s calculated every one of your moves, only for you to suddenly flip the board onto their face and hear all the pieces crash to the floor. When the thug demands a day’s worth of money, Andy Lau takes it all in one move— That’s charisma. Hearing his ex-lover had remarried, he walked away in the pouring rain without even lighting a cigarette—that’s charisma. Waiting at the pier for Maggie Cheung, grabbing her hand, and dashing like a storm to the phone booth for a passionate kiss—that’s charisma. Speaking his heart at the hotel without a single plea or demand, then turning to ascend the stairs, leaving the choice to Maggie Cheung—that’s charisma.
That kiss in the pier phone booth—a full minute long—is the pinnacle of kissing scenes. It’s the magnificent release of emotions both man and woman had painfully restrained. Andy Lau’s movements and powerful arms, Maggie Cheung’s expression and flowing hair—every detail is perfect.
The subsequent hotel conversation—whether through the actors’ skill or the director’s meticulousness—is visually exquisite. Though the dialogue may feel slightly lacking, careful observation reveals Wong Kar-wai’s obsession with detail: their bodies shift from facing each other to standing parallel, their gazes slowly drifting away; During the silence, Maggie Cheung’s gaze, Andy Lau’s cigarette smoke and the unconscious scratching of his hand, Maggie Cheung’s stiff expression as she forces back her emotions while saying “Then I’ll go.” And that classic exchange: “Can you stay out tonight? (Confident tone)” “(Deep voice, the woman walking away freezes instantly) Why did you wait until now to come find me?” ” Because I… (Three lines of non-Wong Kar-wai-esque nonsense, though the delivery and expression are spot-on)” “If you hadn’t come, I might have married that doctor (The plaintive tone and that ‘might’ give you away…)” …Then, Brother Andy says nothing, just turns and walks upstairs! !! No apology, no looking back, no attempt to stop her—nothing. He just walked straight upstairs!!! The climax should’ve been that confidence leaving the choice to Maggie Cheung. Brother Hua, you’ve messed it up again! Maggie watched him go up, her gaze drifting for a moment before she helplessly followed. What can you do? When you love someone, you love them—nothing can stop it.
Besides that widely criticized ending, I’ve got another bone to pick!! Brother Hua, you know Maggie has lung issues—why the hell are you smoking?
Do you realize you’re forcing others to breathe secondhand smoke? What? You didn’t know… Ignorance of science is terrifying…
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » As Tears Go By 1988 Film Review: Maggie’s gaze, Brother Hua’s swagger