Name: Leung Cheuk Man, Wong Cho Kiu
UID: 3036104620, 3036069909
google drive for podcast and stills: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KIVvkKiHxAL9DQT4sz64HZf928XwL1KN?usp=sharing
《重慶森林》Chungking Express
The main location of the film Chungking Express is the Chungking Mansions, a building with a vivid, chaotic and energetic atmosphere representative of Chungking Express‘s vivid, chaotic and energetic setting. The camera follows the characters through narrow corridors and crowded staircases, capturing the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong’s everyday life, as they attempt to make their way through the crowded spaces. Throughout the movie, the building plays a prominent part in creating a sense of atmosphere and mood. The building’s distinctive architecture and the gloomy beauty add a touch of drama to the movie. In addition, the main scenes are shot in the fast-food shop where the protagonist is taking some food to eat. With the lighting and the atmosphere of the room, the actor’s expression was accentuated, which enhanced the actor’s performance. Even so, the building is merely meant to convey the feelings of the protagonist and it ignores a lot of the other essential features and architectural structures that make up reality.
There is a lot of ethnic minorities in Chungking Mansions nowadays, mainly barber shops, restaurants, money changing shops, and hotels that are mainly owned by ethical minorities. It is a very hospitable place where there are a lot of friendly people. It is a place where you are sure to be welcomed by the people when you visit. When it comes to seeing and experiencing Chungking, the reality is that it is a completely different experience. While a cramped and crowded environment may still have a lot of energy and vibrancy, living in such a place can lead to a lot of difficulty with the energy and vibrancy. A number of issues can affect residents in the community, such as noise, lack of privacy, and limitations in access to basic amenities such as sanitation, among others. Chungking Mansions are also known to suffer from several economic and social stresses, which are not adequately represented in the film due to the small amount of time available. Real estate values are rising, gentrification is spreading, and political and economic forces are changing and becoming more important than ever before. These things can affect the character and vitality of neighborhoods.
Chungking Mansion is an iconic building in Hong Kong, known for its thriving markets, guesthouses, and restaurants within its walls. Chunking Express, a film that portrays the chaos and speed of Hong Kong life, employs this building as a key location in a number of scenes throughout the film.
In order to capture the essence of Chungking Mansion, this film presents a vibrant and diverse perspective. An energetic vibe is created by the cameras lingering on the neon lights, crammed hallways, and bustling shops and restaurants. International travelers, immigrants, and entrepreneurs have relied on this building as a hub, and Hong Kong’s cultural diversity and cosmopolitanism are on show in this presentation.
Additionally, Chungking Mansion is portrayed as a place of loneliness and isolation in the film. The characters in the film are often found alone in their rooms, staring out at the city or conversing with themselves, as they stare into the distance. Throughout the story, the characters are disoriented and claustrophobic by the building’s labyrinthine structure and its crowded corridors, highlighting their feelings of being disconnected from the outside world and alienated from their surroundings.
In addition to its vibrant energy and diversity, the Chungking Mansion area in Hong Kong is also characterized by a feeling of isolation and disconnection, as depicted in “Chungking Express,” which portrays the Chungking Mansion from the perspective of disconnection and isolation. As a symbol of the contradictions and complexity of modern urban life, the building symbolizes the impact of urbanization and globalization on human relationships and experiences, and it symbolizes the contradictions and complexities associated with modern life.
In conclude, Chungking Express presents the building in a very stylized and romanticized way, while the building in reality is much more prosaic and mundane.
I appreciate your insightful analysis and observation of Chungking Mansions. However, a more film-based discussion is worth unfolding. For example, What filmic techniques are used to stylize/romanticize the space? How are settings in Chungking Express deconstructed and reconstructed by filmmakers? Why Chungking Mansions is selected as the setting to promote such a messy/romantic/abstract story? Besides, I would like to see more reflections based on lectures, tutorials and readings. Finally, a more visualized and dialogue-liked podcast would greatly enhance the appeal of your work.