In The Mood For Love 2001 Short Film -

In the Mood for Love (2001) — directed by Wong Kar-wai; cinematography by Christopher Doyle; starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung.

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The short film In the Mood for Love 2001 is a rare and elusive 32-minute coda directed by Wong Kar-wai. Originally conceived as the "dessert" for a triptych project titled Three Stories About Food

, it follows the 2000 feature film and provides a modern-day contrast to the 1962 setting of the original. Plot & Themes

Set in 2001 Hong Kong, the short stars Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as different characters—or perhaps reincarnations of Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan. The Setting

: Tony Leung plays a convenience store owner, and Maggie Cheung is a frequent customer. The Conflict

: The customer leaves her keys with the owner for a lover who never arrives. The Climax

: After both characters suffer minor injuries—he while chasing a thief and she from a fight with her lover's mistress—they share an intimate moment in the store where he kisses her under the guise of "cleaning" cake from her face.

: It focuses on the "sensation of tasting" and the "erotic properties of desserts," acting as a lighter, sweeter counterpoint to the unconsummated longing of the main film. Relationship to Other Works My Blueberry Nights

: This short served as the primary inspiration for Wong Kar-wai's 2007 English-language debut, which also features a romance centered around a cafe and leftover desserts. : Some elements of the intended coda for In the Mood for Love were eventually reworked into the 2004 sequel, Where to Watch The short remains rare but has seen limited releases:

: It was recently screened in theaters alongside the 4K restoration of the main film for its 25th anniversary. Criterion Collection : It is included as a special feature on the In the Mood for Love

25th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray/4K UHD, available through the Criterion Collection

: While the short itself is not widely available on streaming, the original In the Mood for Love (2000) can be watched on: Subscription Free (with ads) ($3.99) or Google Play or his other short films like

In the Mood for Love 2001 is a rarely seen short film by Wong Kar-wai that serves as a modern-day coda or "dessert" to his 2000 masterpiece. Key Features of the Short Film

Original Concept: The short was originally intended to be the final piece of a triptych titled Three Stories About Food. While the second story was expanded into the feature-length In the Mood for Love, this segment—intended as the "dessert"—was kept as a separate short.

Plot & Characters: It features Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung playing different, modern characters. Leung plays the owner of a convenience store who collects keys left by customers, while Cheung plays a woman who returns to the store, gets drunk, and eats several cakes before passing out.

Style: Described as brisk and comic compared to the main feature, the short visually evokes the atmosphere of Chungking Express and served as an early sketch for what eventually became the 2007 film My Blueberry Nights. Running Time: The film is approximately 9 minutes long. Availability

For over two decades, the film was almost impossible to find, having only been screened during Wong Kar-wai's masterclass at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. However, it has recently resurfaced as part of the 25th Anniversary 4K restoration screenings.

Watch the trailer for the 25th-anniversary re-release, which includes the rare 2001 short film: In the Mood for Love 2001 | Trailer | Opens June 27 Film at Lincoln Center YouTube• Jun 26, 2025 in the mood for love 2001 short film

The short film is widely regarded as the prototype for Wong Kar-wai’s first English-language feature, My Blueberry Nights (2007).

Key Motifs: Many iconic elements from the short were directly adapted for the feature, including the central premise of leaving keys at a food establishment and the famous "cake-stain" kiss between Norah Jones and Jude Law.

Visual Style: Reviewers note that while the main In the Mood for Love film is "velvety and warm," the 2001 short carries a colder, "poppier" aesthetic more reminiscent of Chungking Express. In the Mood for Love 2001 - IMDb

In the Mood for Love 2001 (花樣年華 2001) is a 9-minute short film directed by Wong Kar-wai

that serves as a modern-day companion or "coda" to his 2000 masterpiece, In the Mood for Love

. Originally screened only during a masterclass at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, it has recently seen a wider release as a "dessert" feature in 25th-anniversary screenings. Production Background

The short originated from an unrealized anthology project titled Three Stories About Food The Triptych Concept

: The project was intended to feature three segments exploring human relationships through food. In the Mood for Love

(the 2000 feature) was originally the second segment, focusing on neighbors and their shared meals (noodles and rice cookers). The "Dessert" In the Mood for Love 2001 In the Mood for Love (2001) — directed

was the third intended segment, designed as an "analysis of the sensation of tasting" and exploring the erotic properties of desserts like cakes and cream puffs.

: While the feature film grew into a period drama, this short remained a modern-day sketch and eventually served as a prototype for Wong's 2007 English-language film, My Blueberry Nights Plot & Themes

Set in contemporary Hong Kong (the year 2001), the short features the original stars in new roles:

Review: "In the Mood for Love" (2001) Short Film

Director: Wong Kar-wai

Duration: 15 minutes

Starring: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung

Rating: 4.5/5

This 15-minute short film, directed by Wong Kar-wai, is a poignant and visually stunning precursor to his 2000 feature film of the same name. "In the Mood for Love" (2001) short film is a condensed exploration of the complex emotions and forbidden love that blossom between two married individuals, Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) and King Chow (Tony Leung).

The film's narrative takes place in 1960s Hong Kong, where social norms and expectations dictate the behavior of married couples. Through subtle glances, tender touches, and restrained dialogue, Wong Kar-wai masterfully conveys the intense emotions that develop between Su and King as they struggle to maintain a platonic friendship.

The short film's greatest strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of longing and melancholy, perfectly capturing the bittersweet essence of a love that dare not speak its name. Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung deliver captivating performances, conveying a depth of emotion through their facial expressions and body language.

Visually, the film is a treat, with Wong Kar-wai's signature use of vibrant colors and meticulous production design transporting the viewer to a bygone era. The cinematography is breathtaking, with each frame meticulously composed to evoke a sense of nostalgia and romance.

While the short film provides a satisfying standalone experience, it also serves as a fascinating insight into the creative process behind Wong Kar-wai's feature film. Fans of the 2000 movie will appreciate the opportunity to see the embryonic stages of the story and characters, while newcomers will find themselves drawn into the world of 1960s Hong Kong and the haunting beauty of Wong Kar-wai's filmmaking.

Verdict: A beautiful, poignant, and expertly crafted short film that showcases Wong Kar-wai's mastery of storytelling and visual style. A must-watch for fans of romantic cinema and those interested in the evolution of a film from concept to completion.

Recommendation: If you're a fan of Wong Kar-wai's work or enjoy romantic dramas set in nostalgic settings, then "In the Mood for Love" (2001) short film is an essential watch. Pair it with the feature film (2000) for a complete exploration of this poignant love story.

Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love (2000 internationally, widely cited as 2001 in some festival contexts) is a restrained, sensuous film about longing, self-restraint, and the fine architecture of memory. Set in 1962 Hong Kong, it follows neighbors Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) as they slowly discover their spouses’ infidelity and — instead of lashing out — cultivate a private, exquisitely controlled intimacy that never becomes physical.

In 1960s Hong Kong, two lonely neighbors form a fragile connection after discovering their spouses’ infidelities, navigating desire, restraint, and the quietly devastating ache of what might have been.

If the user was referring specifically to a short film released strictly in 2001, they may be referring to "Hua Yang De Nian Hua" (The Age of Blossoms). The In the Mood for Love 2001 short

The In the Mood for Love 2001 short film picks up at an ambiguous point. Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) is now a successful writer living in a sterile, modern apartment. The traditional Chinese music has been replaced by the hum of a refrigerator and distant traffic.

One night, he receives a call. It is Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung), but her voice is distorted by time. She asks to meet him at a hotel—the same hotel from the original film where they rehearsed their spouses’ affair. When Chow arrives, the setting has changed. The walls are now a muted grey. The red curtains are gone. In perhaps the most iconic sequence of the 2001 short film, they sit in silence. There are no rehearsals. No "let’s pretend."

Instead, the director employs a radical narrative device: the removal of dialogue. For nearly six minutes, the two lovers simply stare at a malfunctioning wall clock. The second hand ticks backwards. Wong Kar-wai suggests that in 2001, time has literally reversed for them. They are no longer hiding from their spouses; they are hiding from the future they missed.

When cinephiles hear the phrase In the Mood for Love, their minds instantly drift to the hazy, rain-soaked streets of 1960s Hong Kong. They picture Tony Leung’s smoldering gaze and Maggie Cheung’s twenty-three interchangeable cheongsams. They hear the aching pulse of Shigeru Umebayashi’s Yumeji’s Theme. However, buried deep in the filmography of director Wong Kar-wai lies a ghost: a companion piece, a commercial epilogue, and a formal experiment known simply as the In the Mood for Love 2001 short film.

This 12-minute masterpiece, often overshadowed by its feature-length predecessor, is not a deleted scene nor a "making-of" featurette. It is a standalone work of art that re-contextualizes the entire narrative of unrequited love. For fans who thought they knew everything about Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan, the 2001 short film offers a devastating final chapter.

If you saw a specific “2001 short” on a platform like Vimeo or an old film festival catalog, check if it’s actually:

In the Mood for Love 2001 is a 30-minute short film by Wong Kar-wai

that serves as a modern-day "coda" or "dessert" to his acclaimed 2000 feature, In the Mood for Love

. Often screened as part of special anniversary editions, it offers a starkly different, contemporary take on the central themes of longing and chance encounters. Critical Reception & Style

Critics and audiences often view the short as a "delightful dessert" that provides a form of emotional closure or "therapy" for fans of the original film's tragic ending. Aesthetic Shift

: Unlike the "velvety warm hues" and slow-motion elegance of the 1960s setting in the main feature, this short uses a colder, rougher aesthetic. It has been described as a "poppier" work, closer to the style of Chungking Express Thematically Lighter

: While the original film is defined by moral restraint and unconsummated desire, this short is described as "sweet" and even "hilarious," featuring a more direct and physically expressive relationship between the leads. : Viewers on platforms like Letterboxd

frequently mention that seeing the two leads (Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung) finally share a kiss is incredibly satisfying after the "bitter aftertaste" of the feature's ending. Plot & Context

: Set in a 2001 Hong Kong convenience store (specifically a 7-Eleven), Tony Leung plays the store owner and Maggie Cheung is a regular customer. They bond over shared desserts and a botched shoplifting incident.

: It was originally conceived as the third part of a triptych titled Stories About Food

, which eventually fell apart when the second story expanded to become the full-length feature In the Mood for Love

: The short is widely considered a creative "sketch" for Wong's later English-language film, My Blueberry Nights

, particularly the iconic scene involving a kiss over a piece of cake. "informal trilogy"?