I sat down last night, scrolling through my Netflix and despondent at the selection I found. Eventually I made it to the “romance” section, an area I commonly avoid, and came across a film I’d never heard of called Fallen Angels. Hit men and romance? Well, can’t go too wrong as long as there are some guns a-blazin’. Turns out that this is one of the better movies I’ve had the pleasure of seeing for some time. Little did I know at the time that the director, Wong Kar-wai, was the same man who wrote and/or directed some other films that I love, such as 2046, In the Mood for Love, Ashes of Time and Chungking Express.
The story follows two lines, one consisting of a hit man and his agent who have gotten a bit too close, and the other about a mute with some thuggish tendencies. The two stories balance out between the romantically tragic and some light-hearted comedy, mixed in with a little action. This makes for a great combo and the way Wong Kar-wai switches between the various stories is genius.
Both of these stories primarily revolve around relationships. There is a battle between love and business, people’s need to make a connection and the love of a son for his father. The movie explores the nature and manifestations of relationships in a complex yet entertaining way.
Wong Kar-wai’s directorial style is an eclectic one that brings to mind stylistic elements of other directors that I enjoy. The soundtrack is a major part of this film, sometimes
leading the film and sometimes being led by the film. Sometimes the film seems to dance to the music’s melody.
I came away from Fallen Angels with an instant desire to watch more of Wong Kar-wai’s films, and shall make certain to do so in the future. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who can appreciate unique directing, excellent writing and intense acting.