The Cinema of Wong Kar Wai As Tears Go By

  • Cinema
  • Playhouse
  • Run time – 102 minutes
  • Seating map

The directional debut of Wong Kar Wai

Hong Kong | 1995 | Cantonese language with Chinese and English subtitles | Action/Drama/Romance | R18+

Wong Kar Wai’s scintillating debut feature is a kinetic, hyper-cool crime thriller graced with flashes of the impressionistic, daydream visual style for which he would become renowned.

Set amidst Hong Kong’s ruthless, neon-lit gangland underworld, this operatic saga of ambition, honor, and revenge stars Andy Lau as a small-time mob enforcer who finds himself torn between a burgeoning romance with his ailing cousin (Maggie Cheung, in the first of her iconic collaborations with the director) and his loyalty to his loose cannon partner in crime (Jacky Cheung) whose reckless attempts to make a name for himself unleash a spiral of violence.

Marrying the pulp pleasures of the gritty Hong Kong action drama with hints of the head-rush romanticism Wong would push to intoxicating heights throughout the 1990s, As Tears Go By was a box office smash that heralded the arrival of one of contemporary cinema’s most electrifying talents.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Event details

The debut feature by modern cinema’s most voluptuous romantic…from first frame to last, obviously and exquisitely a movie by Wong Kar-wai.

Credits

Wong Kar Wai
Director

Jeffrey Lau
Writer

Cast

Andy Lau
as Wah

Maggie Cheung
as Ngor

Jacky Cheung
as Fly (烏蠅 Wu Ying)

William Chang
Ngor’s doctor

Lam Kau
as Kung

Alex Man
as Tony

Ronald Wong
as Site

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Playhouse

The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.

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