Instructional Video

In the Mood for Love

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

English-speaking viewers don't need to read the subtitles to understand Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood For Love. The colors, the music, and the framing of the shots so beautifully express the emotions of the characters that dialogue, in any language, seems unnecessary. The narrator of a video from a film criticism playlist explores how Wong Kar-Wai's visual style contributes to the power of his tragic tale.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Have film students watch and look for the referenced parallels among Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood For Love, Douglas Sirk's All that Heaven Allows, and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo 
Classroom Considerations
  • Given the esoteric nature of the criticism, the video is most appropriate for film studies classes
  • The fifth episode in playlist on film criticism
  • Episodes are designed to be viewed in order
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • The narrator discusses several different critical lenses through which the film may be viewed
  • Concepts are illustrated with clips from the film
Cons
  • None
Common Core