S3E7: CHUNGKING EXPRESS
Episode description
Wong Kar-wai's CHUNGKING EXPRESS is a little different from the psychological thrillers and existential horrors this show usually talks about, but it's no less experimental and just as much a ride through crazytown. It's appropriate that the 1994 film could be called Pulp Fiction meets Reality Bites, since the film's Western popularity is largely thanks to Quentin Tarantino, who brought it to U.S. theaters. Today, Bill and Renan also discuss: whether it matters that Faye Wong is a so classic "manic pixie dream girl"; the cinematography and contributions of Chris Doyle; how it relates to Hong Kong's recent history; also: Bill buries the lead and eventually gets around to sharing his personal experiences of Hong Kong, Chungking Mansions, and mid-level escalators.
Film links:
- Chungking Express on IMDb
- Chungking Express on Wikipedia
- Roger Ebert 1996 review
- Quentin Tarantino gushes about the movie
- The Dissolve on "22 seconds [of] eternity"
- Amy Taubin essay for Criterion
- Janet Maslin's misbegotten review
- Feminist Music Geek on "manic pixie dream girls"
- AV Club on "California Dreamin'" in Chungking Express
- Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'"
- Faye Wong's "Dream Person"; Cranberries cover
- Dennis Brown's "Things in Life"
Hong Kong links:
- The Stranger on Chungking Mansions
- Chungking Mansions on Wikipedia
- Mid-level escalators on Wikipedia
Follow-up links:
- Karyn Kusama on Bret Easton Ellis podcast
- Alfred Hitchcock's Rope on Wikipedia
- NY Mag: "literary chauvinists" love DFW
- Salon: DFW "was not a bro"
- LitHub: "Reclaiming" DFW from the "lit-bros"
Show links:
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