You could say nothing much happens in Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood For Love -- nothing much except a smouldering passion between the two leads that is only ever hinted at but still threatens to melt celluloid.

Tony Leung stars here as Chow, a newspaper editor who moves with his wife into a new residential building.

The setting is Hong Kong in the early '60s. Chow and his wife quickly meet their neighbours, most of whom are also from Shanghai originally.

The beautiful Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung) and her husband are also new to the building. She works as a secretary. Her husband is usually away on business trips.

Chow's wife is often out of town as well. As one never sees the face of Li-zhen's husband or Chow's wife, it is quickly established that something untoward is up.

Li-zhen and Chow slowly face the fact that their spouses are having an affair. They then slowly move toward each other. In The Mood For Love is a sorrowful love story -- as well as a political and historical document -- but it's mostly about amazing visuals.

Between the slo-mo and magic-quick shots and the long, lingering close-ups of Maggie Cheung's beauty, the film has the logic and rhythm of a dream. Expect to be mesmerized by the simple sight of Cheung as she walks up and down stairs, swinging her tea thermos -- it's hypnotic, the way the camera loves her. Hypnotic and erotic.

On the other hand, don't expect to walk away with all your questions answered. Made mostly without any formal script, In The Mood For Love is typical Wong Kar-wai moviemaking in the sense that the characters are bleak and alone in many ways. Opportunities are fumbled. Fear of social censure overtakes passion.

At times moving and humourous, and at other times confusing, In The Mood For Love is an exercise in looking, and maybe even in voyeurism. Eschewing the usual narrative form, Wong Kar-wai tells stories in a fashion that requires far more from an audience. No matter how pretty it is to look at, In The Mood For Love does not lack the capacity to annoy even the most devoted viewer. For certain, beauty is in the eye of the beholder in this case.

In The Mood For Love has English subtitles.

(This film is rated PG)

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