FALLEN ANGELS (1995) Explained: Wong Kar Wai's Neon Noir, Its Soundtrack and Which Blu-ray to Buy

Few films look like FALLEN ANGELS (1995). Wong Kar Wai's neon-soaked Hong Kong noir is one of the most visually distinctive films of the 1990s, and it keeps finding new audiences. Here is what it is about, how it relates to CHUNGKING EXPRESS, why it looks and sounds the way it does, and which Blu-ray edition to buy.

What is FALLEN ANGELS about?

FALLEN ANGELS follows a handful of lonely people drifting through Hong Kong at night. Wong Chi-ming (Leon Lai) is a hitman who wants out of his violent life, and his partner (Michelle Reis) quietly loves him from a distance. Elsewhere, Ho Chi-mo (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a mute former convict, wanders the city at night, and around these men drift other lonely characters, including the volatile Blondie (Karen Mok) and Charlie (Charlie Yeung, also credited as Charlie Young). The stories overlap only fleetingly, which is much of the film's charm, and we will not say more than that.

What genre is FALLEN ANGELS?

It is usually described as a neo-noir: a crime story with a hitman at its centre, but one that is more interested in loneliness, missed connections and fleeting romance than in plot. There are bursts of stylised violence, and plenty of offbeat comedy, particularly in the Kaneshiro scenes. It runs 99 minutes and was released in Hong Kong on 6 September 1995.

Is FALLEN ANGELS a sequel to CHUNGKING EXPRESS?

No, but the two are closely linked. Wong Kar Wai originally conceived FALLEN ANGELS as the third story of CHUNGKING EXPRESS (1994), then separated it because of its length and very different tone. Wong has described the two films as complementary, showing the bright and dark sides of Hong Kong. If you are new to him, watch CHUNGKING EXPRESS first and FALLEN ANGELS second, though each stands perfectly well on its own.

Why does FALLEN ANGELS look so unusual?

The look comes from cinematographer Christopher Doyle, who used wide-angle lenses extensively to distort faces and create a strange sense of distance within close-ups. Much of the film was shot at night with hand-held cameras and deliberately frantic, out-of-focus visuals. The work won Doyle Best Cinematography at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1996, and the look has been a major stylistic influence on the cinema that followed.

The soundtrack

The music is as memorable as the images. The opening re-orchestrates Massive Attack's "Karmacoma": Wong has said he wanted to use Massive Attack's music but it was too expensive, so his composers wrote something in the same spirit. Elsewhere you will hear Shirley Kwan's dream pop version of "Forget Him", Laurie Anderson's "Speak My Language" and The Flying Pickets' "Only You". The original score by Frankie Chan and Roel A. Garcia won Best Original Score at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Awards

• 15th Hong Kong Film Awards (1996): Best Supporting Actress (Karen Mok), Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle) and Best Original Score (Frankie Chan and Roel A. Garcia).
• 32nd Golden Horse Awards: Best Film Editing (William Chang and Wong Ming-lam).
• Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Film of Merit.

Is FALLEN ANGELS in English?

No. The film is in Cantonese, so you will want English subtitles. Our Blu-ray includes them, with one tip: during playback, select the English track with the subtitles button on your remote, as it cannot be chosen from the set-up menu.

Which FALLEN ANGELS Blu-ray should you buy?

There are several ways to own the film, and the right one depends on what you want.

• Single-film, region free Blu-ray: our FALLEN ANGELS limited slipcase edition from Nova Media is a region free disc presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and 1080p, with Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English subtitles. Extras include a 7 minute interview with Christopher Doyle, three deleted scenes (ONLY YOU, WHOM YOU MISS and A BEAUTIFUL EVENING) and the trailer.
• Criterion box set: the Criterion Collection's WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI is a seven-disc Blu-ray set of new 4K digital restorations covering AS TEARS GO BY, DAYS OF BEING WILD, CHUNGKING EXPRESS, FALLEN ANGELS, HAPPY TOGETHER, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE and 2046. It also had a UK release in 2021. It is the one to choose if you want the whole run in a single box.
• Earlier UK release: FALLEN ANGELS has also had a Region B Blu-ray from Artificial Eye in the UK, though availability varies.
• 4K UHD: a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray digipak, based on a restoration supervised by Wong Kar Wai, has been released in Japan by TC Entertainment. We do not stock it, so it is an import if you want it.

FALLEN ANGELS quick facts

• Director: Wong Kar Wai
• Year: 1995 (Hong Kong release 6 September 1995)
• Cast: Leon Lai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Reis, Karen Mok, Charlie Yeung
• Cinematography: Christopher Doyle
• Runtime: 99 minutes
• Language: Cantonese
• Country: Hong Kong

If you want a single-film, region free copy for your shelf, you can order FALLEN ANGELS on Blu-ray here.