Leaving Lai, Loving Wong

Again, a disclaimer.

I am not a fan of either Leon Lai or Faye Wong.

That's why it surprised me that I actually like Leaving Me, Loving You enough to watch it many times more.

LMLY is another of those movies I prefer calling Starbucks flick because it has this languid, smooth, jazzy feel to it. Others would find it boring and very slow. In fact, most of the reviews I read pointed to that. Good thing I didn't read those reviews before watching the movie or I wouldn't have had the chance to watch it.

LMLY tells the story of Chow, a doctor, and Yuet, a party organiser. They are both passive, quiet individuals. They break up and in the process of moving on with their lives, they find themselves being drawn to each other again due to circumstances.



See, Yuet is hired by a rich family to organise a surprise party for its patriarch. Chow happens to be the man's private physician so they meet again. She moves away from the pink apartment, which happened to be next door to Chow's. He checks on her once with the intention of giving her medicine because she was sick, but found that strangers now lived in her flat.

I have two favorite scenes in the movie. The first is when Chow sees her again while he is having lunch with two friends. Yuet is eating her lunch on the go, stops by a park where she is projected on the big screen, Chow's friend sees her and alerts him, he leaves the lunch and follows her home. That's when he found out where she lives now. He drops the medicines in her mailbox and asks the supervisor (a look-alike of Long Mejia) if the apartment across the street was for rent.

My other favorite scene happens on the day Chow moves in. Yuet comes home and there is a strong windstorm that blows her bedroom door out from its hinges. As she struggles to clear the mess, Chow comes in and proceeds to help her. She asks why he was there and he tells her that he has just moved in across the street. He attempts to kiss her but she moves away.

"Too soon. Too fast. Too much sex. You wanted to break up and now that you want me back, you expect me to accept it. Then what?"

The movie is set in Shanghai with The Bund sharing stellar billing with Leon and Faye. I could only wish I went to Shanghai and not to Beijing. Faye's apartment and workshop were both gorgeous in colours and decor. The cinematography is crisp, highlighting the beauty of the city and its environs. I also like Faye's clothes, understated but classic and smart. And the soundtrack is beautiful.

So it is possible after all to realise you still love someone even after a break-up, that in fact, your feelings could even be stronger than before. I could relate well with Chow and Yuet because I am not verbally expressive in my feelings especially for a significant other. Chow expresses his love in a rather bizarre way, short of stalking Yuet and moving close to her if only to watch over her. Yuet, on the other hand, expresses her love through the pain she feels after the break-up, trying to move on with her life but being caught in a snag just the same.

Right now though, I feel that my life is A Very Long Engagement. But I haven't seen that movie.