The film's stars, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, do a phenomenal job of inhabiting these characters. Cheung fills Mrs. Chan with kindness and compassion, while Leung gives Mr. Chow a kind of quiet charisma, while at the same time managing to show the longing that is withdrawn by his resolve; he even holds in any anger, only providing a shoulder to cry on as Ms. Chan rehearses confronting her spouse to learn the truth about his relationship abroad, never doing likewise himself. All in all, these are a pair of vivid, true-to-life, and truly likable characters.

Perhaps the most enjoyable of the films minor touches is the fantastic musical score, largely performed by Nat King Cole. The occasionally stirring, usually irresistibly jazzy music does a wonderful job of universalizing the film's concept of temptation resisted and love that circumstances prevent from flowing freely. The film's cinematography is lush and oddly radiant, and authenticity is added when one realizes that the film was shot in a recognizable Bangkok.

All things considered, a marvelous film; let us hope that the Academy doesn't neglect it when Oscar time rolls around once again and Best Foreign Film nominees are amassed.