As a passionate devotee of *Mainland* Chinese cinema (resolutely excluding
Taiwan's misbegotten Tsai Ming-Liang, and most of Hong Kong's John Wayne
imitations), I've been looking forward to Kar Wai Wong's "2046." Consider
a cast that includes Ziyi Zhang, Li Gong, Carina Lau, Maggie Cheung!
(Ziyi - http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0955471/ - at 25 has made about the
same number of films, including "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers.")

"2046" may not be released in the US for months (years - if Miramax's
treatment of "Hero" is the model), but I have connections in Shanghai,
so...

The number in the title refers to the year of the film's location,
also the last year Beijing committed to the preservation of Hong Kong's
separate political system (1997 plus 50), a room number, a novel written
by the main character, a match-game configuration from "Last Year in
Marienbad" <G>, something or other.

Tony Leung's character goes back and forth between various periods, and
romances the leading ladies - joylessly, boringly.  The story is both
deliberately confusing and confused in writing and direction.  "2046"
is major disappointment...  except for the soundtrack, which combines -
boldly and weirdly - Dean Martin and Callas, the latter with repeated
performances of "Casta diva" from "Norma."

Wong has been using American pop for many years, in the manner of Dennis
Potter - fusing music and image - but the voice of Callas looms larger
in this film than music does in any of Wong's other works.  Unlike
Potter's insight into the meaning of music and text of songs, however,
Wong employs "Casta diva" as an "atmospheric" device, with no real
relevance to what you see.  Still, it's a welcome diversion in a
disappointing movie.

Janos Gereben
www.sfcv.org
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