Rouge (1987, Stanley Kwan) - Explained

[@Marcel_Audubon]

characters look down on Fleur's anachronistic costuming throughout this movie but seeing it today it stands the test of time far better than the hideous '80s bulky-sweaters-in-cheery-colors look everyone else is wearing. I remember finding the flashback parts of the movie enjoyable, but the modern ('80s) parts hard to sit through. But we were just talking about imagined nostalgia yesterday, weren't we? haha The real value of this film for me is seeing Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung working together; they always had such good chemistry whether in film or on stage. Both died in '03, so we're denied seeing them work together as older stars as we can see some of their contemporaries who are still active today

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Haha yes, we were having this conversation as I was uploading this video - strange coincidence. You’re right though, the classic look from the 30s has definitely stood the test of time. Agreed - Mui and Cheung’s chemistry was phenomenal.

[@ROBERT-hz3nb]

THE OPENING SCENE IS UNFORGETABLE FOR ME. ANITA MUI SINGING FACE TO FACE TO LESLIE CHEUNG. R.I. P. LESLIE. TRUE TRUE LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER IN THIS FILM ! ! !

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@Suite_annamite]

What's *even more haunting* than the story itself is how *both of the main actors would end up dying early:* so we literally are watching *two ghosts acting out a loop* by watching this movie.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

That’s so true. The ghost element is quite meta.

[@kojimayoshiyuki2728]

Really enjoyed the film but this essay really helped me understand some of the cutural context that I missed. The loneliness of yuan and his issues with a disconnected modern world hit hard and so did fluers quest for an eternal type of love.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Really glad the video helped. Yeah, that disconnection - which ironically leads to a type of connection - always interested me.

[@atulyabharadwaj2279]

Great video as always

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@cookiestar3069]

Really appreciate your videos. Fascinating work.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@therightone5708]

This was a fascinating movie and review to me as a guy who strongly believes in the idea of global neoliberalism.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Thank you so much. It’s a complicated issue - far more complicated for HK than most places too.

[@niko3g]

JAJAJAJAJAJAJA and you rlly believed that? JAJAJAJA what a jerk

[@kostajovanovic3711]

Oh...

[@Foeid]

So brilliant. Thank you so much.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Thank you 😱

[@vincentwong2801]

Excellent explanation 👍

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Thank you 🤝

[@rhea8126]

It's been a long year since I found this title omg

[@Away-i2h]

I didn't understand the significance in the shot of the frabric and the mother's shoe. Care to share your thoughts on that?

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

Do you mean the fabric used to even out the rouge on her lips? I think it’s used a common method of applying rouge in that way. I could be wrong though - and probably am 😅. There’s likely a connection there with her mother, now I think about it. I’ll rewatch it. The mother's shoe, on the other hand, I’ve always read as a motif representing the connection between the living and the deceased, emphasising themes of love and loss etc. standard stuff … what are your thoughts?

[@canman5060]

The author of the book Rouge is Lee Bik Wah.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

I didn’t even realise I forget to credit the author, thanks for pointing that out. Do you prefer the book to the film?

[@VodeniMedved]

Why she keep losing her rouge during her stay as a ghost? I didn't get that detail.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

There’s a few reasons. My favourite is that it was her connection with her lover, but like him, it keeps getting lost.

[@dornravlin]

Are you ever going to do Dust in the Wind

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

That’s probably the most depressing HHH film - for me anyway haha. But yes, I will definitely make a video on Dust in the Wind and Millennium Mambo.

[@lukderk]

Where are films from Golden ⚠️?!

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

😂 working on it.

[@lukderk]

@@EastAsianCinemaHistory sweet lair😎

[@sammieg-wing8336]

Anita Mui was so hot 🥵

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

RIP 😢 - and Leslie.

[@NanatsukiBenio]

@@EastAsianCinemaHistory YEP.... they were both Cool and Hot... R.I.P .......

[@ruff1draft]

This film was produced buy Jackie Chan