Wong Kar-Wai: the director who knows all about falling for the wrong people

EW: You're always being compared to Godard. Is that flattering for you, or tiresome?

WKW: Do they mean Godard himself, or Godard the general impression? People always say, "This guy's films look like Godard's" because they are difficult, not because they really look like Godard.

EW: But is he an influence on you?

WKW: Yes, of course. I think most filmmakers my age are influenced by Godard.

EW: Who else influenced you?

WKW: My mother.

EW: You cast some of the most popular actors in Hong Kong, but you always subvert their images. So you seem to be advancing the cult of celebrity while thumbing your nose at it at the same time. Putting Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung in the graphic sex scenes in Happy Together was like casting Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise as lovers.

WKW: Yeah. As an audience member, I prefer to see some stars to make me feel like I'm watching a movie.

EW: And how do you feel about working with them?

WKW: I don't have any problems with it. They may hate me or love me, but that's their problem, not mine. As long as I get my shot, it's fine.

EW: Do any of them hate you?

WKW: Sometimes.

EW: But then they work with you again.

WKW: [smiles] Yeah.

EW: You know, we've been talking for nearly an hour and you've made no value judgments of any kind. You're not pushing your ideas at all.

WKW: I hate to do that. One of the questions I hate most is, "What are your films about?" There's no point in me explaining my films. If I can do that in words, why bother to make a film? Audiences should get their own ideas.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Brant Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning