Days of Being Wild


Days of Being Wild is a 1990 Hong Kong drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars some of the best-known actors and actresses in Hong Kong, including Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Carina Lau, Jacky Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Days of Being Wild also marks the first collaboration between Wong and cinematographer Christopher Doyle, with whom he has since made six more films.
The movie forms the first part of an informal trilogy, together with In the Mood for Love and 2046.

Plot

The movie is set in Hong Kong and the Philippines in 1960–61. Yuddy, or 'York' in English, is a playboy in Hong Kong and is well known for stealing girls' hearts and breaking them. His first lover in the film is Li-zhen, who suffers emotional and mental depression as a result of Yuddy's wayward attitude. Li-zhen eventually seeks much-needed solace from a sympathetic policeman named Tide. Their near-romance is often hinted at but never materializes.
York's next romance is with a vivacious cabaret dancer whose stage name is Mimi. Mimi is also loved by York's best friend, Zeb. Unsurprisingly, York dumps her too and she begins a period of self-destruction. York initiates romantic relationships but refuses to commit to the relationship and is unwilling to make compromises. He is conflicted about his feelings about his adoptive mother, a former prostitute played by Rebecca Pan, and is obsessed about his biological mother, who he eventually discovers is a Filipino aristocrat.

Cast and roles

Days of Being Wild grossed HK $9,751,942 in its Hong Kong run, a number that would become typical for a Wong Kar Wai film. With the starry cast, this figure was considered a disappointment. Still, the film was successful enough to warrant a parody, and now routinely tops Hong Kong critics' lists of the best local productions.

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 90% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Days of Being Wild uses a young man's struggle to come to terms with a family secret as the foundation for a beautifully filmed drama with a darkly dreamy allure." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 96/100, indicating "universal acclaim".
The film ranked at number three on the Hong Kong Film Awards Association 's 2005 list of The Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures. It placed at number 37 on the "Asian Cinema 100 List" at the 20th Busan International Film Festival in 2015.

Awards and nominations