Chongqing senlin (1994) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Chongqing Senlin (Chungking Express) (1994), directed by Wong Kar-wai, is a poetic and open-ended conclusion that encapsulates the film's themes of loneliness, fleeting connections, and the passage of time. The movie follows two separate but loosely connected stories of lovesick cops in Hong Kong. The first story ends with Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) moving on from his heartbreak after a brief encounter with a mysterious woman in a blonde wig (Brigitte Lin). The second story concludes with Cop 663 (Tony Leung) finding solace in Faye (Faye Wong), a quirky snack bar worker who secretly rearranges his life while he's unaware. The final scenes emphasize the cyclical nature of human connections and the possibility of new beginnings, leaving much to interpretation.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The film's ending is split between the resolutions of its two narratives. In the first story, Cop 223's obsession with his ex-girlfriend May leads him to buy expired pineapple cans (her favorite food) every day until May 1st, the day he turns 25 and decides to let go. His chance encounter with the blonde-wigged drug smuggler (Brigitte Lin) is intense but ephemeral; she leaves him asleep in a hotel room, and he wakes up to a voicemail wishing him a happy birthday. This moment symbolizes his acceptance of impermanence-he realizes some connections are fleeting, and he must move forward. The rain washing away his pager message mirrors the cleansing of his emotional baggage.
The second story's ending is more hopeful but equally ambiguous. Cop 663, heartbroken after his flight attendant girlfriend leaves him, spends most of the story in a daze, talking to inanimate objects in his apartment. Faye, the snack bar worker, secretly breaks into his home to clean, redecorate, and subtly insert herself into his life. When he eventually discovers her intrusions, he doesn't react with anger but with curiosity. The film's final scene shows Faye, now a flight attendant herself, meeting Cop 663 a year later at the snack bar. He playfully quizzes her about her travels, and she hands him a handwritten boarding pass, suggesting a potential romance. The open-ended nature of their reunion leaves their future uncertain but implies that timing-a recurring theme in Wong Kar-wai's films-might finally align for them.
Themes and Symbolism in the Ending
The ending reinforces the film's central themes of loneliness and serendipity. Both cops are stuck in emotional ruts, clinging to the past (Cop 223 with his pineapple cans, Cop 663 with his ex's belongings). Their arcs conclude with small but significant steps toward healing. The blonde wig in the first story represents disguise and impermanence, while Faye's flight attendant uniform in the second story symbolizes change and new journeys. The recurring motif of expiration dates (pineapple cans, Cop 223's self-imposed deadline) underscores the transient nature of relationships. The film suggests that while love is fleeting, the possibility of connection always exists-if one is willing to let go of the past.
Wong Kar-wai's signature stylistic choices-slow motion, close-ups, and a dreamy color palette-heighten the emotional weight of the ending. The use of California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas throughout Faye's storyline contrasts her vibrant, hopeful energy with Cop 663's melancholy, making their final meeting feel like a collision of two worlds. The handheld camerawork and fragmented editing mirror the characters' disjointed emotional states, while the final shot of Faye's boarding pass leaves the audience wondering: Is this a new beginning, or just another brief intersection in their lives?
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Does Cop 223 ever find lasting love?
- The film implies he moves on, but his story is left open. His arc is about accepting transience, so lasting love may not be the point.
- What happens between Cop 663 and Faye after the boarding pass?
- They might start a relationship, but Wong Kar-wai leaves it ambiguous to emphasize the unpredictability of life.
- Why does Faye become a flight attendant?
- It could signify her desire for freedom or an unconscious mimicry of Cop 663's ex, showing how love influences identity.
Personal Opinion
The ending of Chungking Express is a masterpiece of emotional ambiguity. Wong Kar-wai doesn't tie things up neatly because life rarely works that way-connections are messy, timing is everything, and closure is often self-made. I love how the film balances melancholy with hope, especially in Faye and Cop 663's storyline. Their final scene is tender yet unresolved, leaving room for the audience to imagine their future. The first story's abrupt ending feels like a punch to the gut, but it's a necessary lesson in letting go. Visually and thematically, the film's conclusion is a perfect encapsulation of Wong Kar-wai's style: fleeting, beautiful, and deeply human.
The movie's open-endedness might frustrate some viewers, but it's what makes Chungking Express so rewatchable. Every viewing reveals new layers, and the ending lingers like a half-remembered dream. It's a testament to the idea that not all stories need clear resolutions-sometimes, the beauty is in the unresolved.