Practise Question 'Chungking Express'

5. How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques?

Within the film ‘Chungking Express’, we’re revealed two stories, first about the night life and the second about life in the day. We see similar themes within both anecdotes as the males, (Cop 223 and Cop 663) from each story, are hung up over their ex’s and are heartbroken for their separation. I believe the most distinctive scene that uses quality film techniques is when the waitress tells Cop 663 that a women (his ex) had left him a letter. Prior to her breaking this news there’s a recurring mid over-the-shoulder, two-shot of them together. This concealing shot cuts out the big counter that physically separates the two characters leaving us to believe they’re closer and more intimate. Within the mise-en-scene the waitresses clothing of a big love heart on her t-shirt is placed within the centre of them bringing the possibility of them being love interests. However as this love heart is blue, it could symbolise how Cop 663 is cold hearted and still upset over his ex and hung over what happened in the past and he is frozen in time thinking only about her. Moreover the diegetic song in the background from her stereo is blasting out ‘California Dreaming’ by the Beatles, this has been used to illustrate the mix of cultures within Hong Kong but the domination of Western culture, this is further conveyed through the mise-en-scene as this mid-shot reveals a Coke machine.

Moving on, as the waitress turns the music off it leaves the atmosphere in the air more serious as the Cop rejects the letter. Then the scene cuts to a wide angle, eye-level shot of the Cop facing away from the counter and the waitress looking at the Cop. Also the mise-en-scene reveals the big counter between them emphasising how the mood has become more intense, this has been done to suggest he knows what the letter contains and that he doesn’t want to face its content. Throughout this shot, a film technique called ‘smudge motion’ is used and it gives the impression of time speeding up as if the focus point, Cop 663, is still stuck in the past. This technique has been used to portray how he can’t get over his ex-girlfriend and that he may not even notice the waitress, let alone think of her as a possible love interest. Therefore this film does benefit for its vast use of film techniques.