“Some of the editing has a giddy, overeager quality, the natural excess of a young prodigy, but when the action and the tempo align, the results are exhilarating: an early brawl in a pool hall fairly leaps off the screen.” - J.R. Jones, The Chicago Reader
“AS TEARS GO BY announced the presence of a genuine Hong Kong new wave, as well as an ambitious cineaste.” - J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Sunday, July 23 & Monday, July 24 | Wong Kar Wai’s audacious feature debut is a kinetic thriller that introduced worldwide audiences to his atmospheric and dreamy style. Set in Hong Kong’s underworld, Wah (Andy Lau) and his reckless partner and friend Fly (Jacky Cheung) are debt collectors for the mob. As Wah begins to fall for the beautiful Ngor (Maggie Cheung, the first of her many collaborations with Wong Kar Wai), Fly makes a bad bet and plunges the two into dangerous territory. Gritty, frenetic, and bold, AS TEARS GO BY was a box office hit that kickstarted the career of one of cinema’s most electrifying talents.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Supporting Actor (Jacky Cheung), Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominee - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Andy Lau), Best Actress (Maggie Cheung), Best Supporting Actor (Alex Man), Best Cinematography, Hong Kong Film Awards
Nominee - Best Director, Best Art Direction, Golden Horse Film Festival
Hong Kong Summer: Featuring Film Center favorites, alongside other celebrated Hong Kong cinema classics, starring some of the region’s biggest stars. Join us for an explosive, action-packed summer at the Film Center with five energetic and dynamic weeks where the cinema explodes anew! View full series here.