Chungking Express 1996

The film is structured around two distinct narratives, each revolving around a policeman’s romantic endeavors. Though the stories are presented one after the other and are largely separate, the characters from the second tale make fleeting appearances in the first.

In the first segment, we follow the Taiwan-born officer He Qiwu, also known as Cop 223. Following a breakup with his girlfriend May on April 1st—April Fool’s Day—he decides to wait an entire month, until his own birthday on May 1st, before moving on. Each day, he purchases a tin of pineapple set to expire on May 1st, symbolizing his hope that either he will rekindle the relationship or face the reality of loss. Simultaneously, a woman in a blonde wig (portrayed by Brigitte Lin) struggles to find her footing in the perilous world of drug trafficking after a smuggling venture goes awry. On his birthday, seeking connection, Qiwu approaches the woman at a bar called the Bottoms Up Club. However, she is too weary and falls asleep in a hotel room, leaving him to pass the night watching movies alone. By morning, she emerges to confront a drug baron, Thom Baker, who had double-crossed her. As Qiwu jogs through the city, he receives a birthday message from her on his pager. This leads him to his favorite snack shop, where he has an unexpected encounter with a new employee named Faye.

Transitioning into the second story, we meet Cop 663, who also grapples with heartbreak, having recently split from a flight attendant named Valerie Chow. He soon crosses paths with Faye (played by Faye Wong), the new staff member at the snack bar. In secret, Faye develops feelings for him and takes it upon herself to sneak into his apartment during the day. There, she makes various adjustments in an effort to enhance his quality of life. Over time, her efforts uplift Cop 663’s spirits and he starts to recognize her affection. They eventually plan a date at a restaurant called California. However, Faye has a sudden change of heart and does not show up, leaving him a mock boarding pass with a date set a year in the future. The film concludes with Faye returning to Hong Kong, now a flight attendant herself. She discovers that Cop 663 has purchased the snack bar, with intentions to convert it into a restaurant, but their future together remains uncertain and ambiguous.