Hua Yang De Nian Hua

September 15, 2010 7:43 PM

"Hua Yang De Nian Hua, or "To those who we remember fondly", is a 2000 short film by Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai that was shown at the 2001 Berlin International Film Festival. It consists of a 2m 28s montage of scenes from vintage Chinese films, most of which were considered lost until some nitrate prints were discovered in a California warehouse during the 1990s, set to a song from the soundtrack of Wong's In The Mood For Love, a golden oldie by Zhou Xuan."
posted by puny human (13 comments total)

You know, I'll always think fondly of that films soundtrack for introducing me to Nat King Cole's spanish-language recordings.
posted by .kobayashi. at 7:58 PM on September 15, 2010

Its short film night on MeFi!
posted by sfts2 at 8:03 PM on September 15, 2010

"introducing me to Nat King Cole's spanish-language recordings."

Lnkz Plz.
posted by puny human at 8:07 PM on September 15, 2010

If I do nothing else today but help introduce a single Mefite to this fantastic movie trilogy, it will be a good day.

Days Of Being Wild (1990)
In The Mood For Love (2000)
2046 (2004)
posted by intermod at 8:15 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

He's the best.
posted by grobstein at 8:26 PM on September 15, 2010

The fast edits are crazy making. I'd like to see some of this in its original form, as that's almost seizure-inducing. Is there any info online about the old films? Were they Taiwanese, shot after the communist takeover of the mainland, or do they date back to before the war? I'm more curious about that, myself.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:28 PM on September 15, 2010

Yeah, this was one of the goodies on the Criterion edition of In the Mood for Love, along with some deleted scenes. Warning: Do not click that last link unless you are prepared for Chow in a mustache. I do not exaggerate when I say that he will destroy you.

In conclusion, ITMFL: By far the greatest movie ever.
posted by No-sword at 8:53 PM on September 15, 2010

Thank you.
posted by wuwei at 9:57 PM on September 15, 2010

"The fast edits are crazy making."

I see them as more as de-emphasizing the structure and the complete abscence of mise en scène in the archival footage, or rather, if you will, a rough nostalgia and a highlighting of the central mise en abyme; and a terse farewell, not a rose coloured reminiscence, for a long ago Hong Kong that once was.
posted by puny human at 10:33 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
posted by pracowity at 12:01 AM on September 16, 2010

That's "Good morning to you, Good morning to you..." and it's under copyright until 2030. Don't sing it unless you have the $700 performance royalties.

Anyway, this is awesome. Especially the (alternate reality) deleted scenes; they change the whole movie.
posted by BYiro at 8:01 AM on September 16, 2010

"introducing me to Nat King Cole's spanish-language recordings."

Lnkz Plz.

Nat King Cole - Te Quiero, Dijiste
Nat King Cole - Aquellos Ojos Verdes
Nat King Cole - Quizas, Quizas, Quizas

More information on Cole's 3 spanish-language albums (and a modern tribute to those records), from NPR.
posted by .kobayashi. at 9:07 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Thanks for this; I love his movies.
posted by languagehat at 10:14 AM on September 16, 2010