Watch Vive L'Amour

Vive L'Amour is a Taiwanese drama film directed by Tsai Ming-liang and released in 1994. The movie features three main characters - May Lin, a young, wealthy woman, Ah-jong, a real estate agent, and Hsiao-Kang, a street vendor. The movie is known for its non-linear narrative and an ambiguous ending. The film is set in Taipei, Taiwan, and begins with the three characters' respective mundane daily lives. Ah-jong takes potential buyers and investors to see vacant apartments, May Lin wanders around Taipei's empty apartments and cafes, and Hsiao-Kang sells watches on the street. May Lin, who is going through a rough patch in her life, wanders around the city with a pair of keys to an empty apartment, which she found out is occupied by both Ah-jong and Hsiao-Kang.

One night, Ah-jong returns to the apartment and unexpectedly sees Hsiao-Kang there. The two strangers initially try to avoid each other, but eventually, Hsiao-Kang reveals he has been living there for a while. The film then shifts its focus on the three character's relationship and their individual lives.

May Lin develops a romantic interest in Ah-jong after seeing him with his girlfriend. The film then follows their unconventional love triangle, and their attempt to find meaning in their lives. Their relationships were built more on a search for human connection than actual attraction, but there is something about the emotionally-deprived May that Ah-Jong seems to sense but never fully indulges.

The plot's structure is unusual in that the storylines of the three protagonists hardly intersect. They seem to be living parallel lives, which motivates the viewer to pay attention to the subtler moments in the film, especially as there is relatively little conventional dialogue or plot to speak of. This makes the film's nonlinear narrative challenging to follow, and its meaning is often dependent on one's interpretation.

The film is a visual feast; watching it feels like a meditative experience that fills you with emotions. The scenes are often lengthy and carefully composed, with a focus on facial expressions and body language over dialogue. The cinematography is breathtaking, conveying the emptiness of modern urban life and the character's isolation through long takes and minimal sound.

Vive L'Amour has won several awards since its release, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The film explores themes of love, loneliness, and the meaninglessness of modern urban life. It's a deeply contemplative film that resonates with those who are familiar with the feeling of being disconnected in a bustling city.

The film's title, Vive L'Amour, translates to "Long Live Love" in English. Yet, throughout the film, the characters were searching for love but found neither affection nor intimacy. The title's irony is not lost on the viewer.

In conclusion, Vive L'Amour may not be suitable for mainstream audiences, but it's a captivating film that encourages viewers to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life's quieter moments. The movie is recommended for those looking for something thought-provoking and visually immersive. The film's nonlinear structure and ambiguous ending leave a lasting impression and allow viewers to interpret the film's meaning as it relates to their own lives. Vive L'Amour is a masterpiece by Tsai Ming-liang that explores the fleeting nature of modern human relationships with a masterful blend of style and substance.

Vive L'Amour is a 1994 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.