Jennifer Lawrence Says Everyone Should Watch This 94%-Rated Gem: "It's a Cinematography Must"

Jennifer Lawrence, a recent guest on the BAFTA Playback episode, shared her favorite movie, which she believes everyone should see.

Jennifer Lawrence Picks One Movie Everyone Should Watch

The honor went to Wong Kar-wai's subtle and melancholic film – In the Mood for Love. The actress called it the most beautiful film in the world, admitting that its cinematography brought her to tears:

“This movie is the most beautiful movie in the world, in my world. It is In The Mood For Love. [...] You must see In The Mood For Love. [...] The cinematography made me cry. [...] It's a cinematography must.”

What Is 'In the Mood for Love' About?

The story is set in 1960s Hong Kong. After two neighbors, Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow, move into adjacent apartments, they soon begin to suspect that their spouses are cheating on them with each other.

Bound by these suspicions, the two are unwittingly drawn into a budding romance themselves. There is a languid electricity in the air of the cramped hallways, but they fiercely resist even the most innocent touches.

'In the Mood for Love' Is a Movie Built on Understatement and Unspoken Tension

In the Mood for Love was developed over the course of a year on set without a traditional script, and its final form only emerged during editing.

Like the unfaithful spouses themselves, all the sex scenes remain off-screen, existing only in the imaginations of the characters and the audience.

Terrified of becoming like their unfaithful partners, Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow maintain a distance, making every glance and casual touch incredibly significant.

'In the Mood for Love' Is the Most Strikingly Beautiful Movie You'll Ever See

In In the Mood for Love, the camera captures it all, from Maggie Cheung's garishly elegant dresses to the squalid yet poetic beauty of communal apartment life.

The characters are literally trapped within the frame's geometry: doorframes, frames, mirrors, and window bars surround them, creating the sensation of an invisible prison for their emotions.

However, in the rare moments when they find themselves outside, Hong Kong is empty, and the endless rain bears witness to their most intimate encounters.

In short, In the Mood for Love is a cinematic symphony where each frame is a work of art in itself.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'In the Mood for Love'?

• In the Mood for Love has 92% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.0/10.

• On Letterboxd, In the Mood for Love scored 4.4/5.0.

Where to Watch 'In the Mood for Love'?

In the Mood for Love is available to stream on HBO Max and the Criterion Channel.