Cannes made Wong Kar Wai’s international reputation after a decade of film-making in Hong Kong brought box-office blunder and limited critical acclaim. In 1997, he won Best Director for Happy Together, the saga of a Chinese gay couple’s travels in Argentina. Three years later, In the Mood for Love scooped Best Actor, the Technical Grand Prize and a Palme d’Or nomination.

The subdued love story, set in 1960s Hong Kong has old-fashioned romance with erotic edge, gorgeous costumes, Nat King Cole tunes and spiralling cigarette smoke – a crowd- and critic-pleasing combination that 2046, its lush semi-sci-fi follow-up, built on with less success. Wong, the workaholic, reportedly tinkered with the work-in-progress cut that premiered at Cannes in 2004 late into the night before the screening. Without result – Michael Moore’s topical Fahrenheit 911 took the Palme d’Or.

Even Wong’s harshest critics tend to concede that his films are stunning – visually and in terms of soundtrack.

The Shanghai-born 48-year-old approaches style-icon status himself, sporting the sharp black suits and skinny ties favoured by his melancholy heroes, plus Chow Yun Fat shades.

My Blueberry Nights, which opens this year’s festival, is Wong’s first English-language venture and takes the director well out of his comfort zone – into the tale of an American road-trip.

The films of Wong Kar Wai

1988 As Tears Go By – Wong’s one box-office hit. A mainstream gangster flick

1991 Days of Being Wild – Love and loss in 1960s Hong Kong

1994 Chungking Express – Two urban affairs to the soundtrack of California Dreaming. Huge critical acclaim – in hindsight

1994 Ashes of Time – Life of a bounty hunter in ancient China. Box-office disaster

1995 Fallen Angels – Conceived as a third act to Chungking Express. A sordid love affair

1997 Happy Together – A gay couple leave Hong Kong to rekindle their love in Argentina

2000 In the Mood for Love – A forbidden affair in 1960s Hong Kong. Wong hits the Western mainstream

2004 2046 – A loose sequel, with sci-fi elements

2007 My Blueberry Nights

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