Happy Together

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Happy Together

1997

1h 32m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Lai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his boyfriend, Ho (Leslie Cheung), arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong, seeking a better life. Their highly contentious relationship turns abusive and results in numerous break-ups and reconciliations. When Lai befriends another man, Chang (Chen Chang), he sees the futility of continuing with the promiscuous Ho. Chang, however, is on his own personal journey and, ultimately, both Lai and Ho find themselves far from home and desperately lonely.

Critics Consensus

Happy Together's strong sense of style complements its slice of life love story, even if the narrative slogs.

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Martin Hoyle

Financial Times

01/21/2023

Beautifully photographed by Chris Doyle, the film's gently understated metaphors of searching and exploration linger on.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

01/20/2023

Slim material? Definitely. But there is no chance to get fidgety with Wong the magician at the helm, guiding us lyrically through the seedier side of Buenos Aires.

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Richard Williams

Guardian

01/20/2023

Some of its images are so polished in their beauty that they could have been taken from the many TV ads already influenced by Wong and his team. But Happy Together also turns out to be the most thoughtful and philosophically rewarding of his films.

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Oct 29

5/5

No filmmaker can knock the wind out of you with a single edit like Wong Kar-Wai.

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Jericho Tadeo

The Asian Cut

07/12/2024

9/10

Happy Together is still a once-in-a-lifetime movie

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Ian Thomas Malone

ianthomasmalone.com

04/29/2024

Wong’s commitment to the tedious nature of his film’s core romance highlights a key pillar of the 90s LGBTQ experience. Many of us know what it’s like to give partners significantly more chances than they deserve.

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Kelly L

@KellyLee Apr 9

Two of my favourite actors in one frame. It is such a treat. Watching it for the nth time. It always hits different every time. Some nuances and expressions I’ve missed before, some dialogue that had other underlying meanings and interpretations. It always felt like a gift everytime I watch them perform. Love Leslie and Tony.

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Welll A

@Azevader88 Mar 18

A história do casal gay de Hong Kong que viaja à Argentina e como essa viagem muda suas vidas, me conquistou. Uma espécie de recorte de um período na vida desses personagens, lindamente fotografado por Christopher Doyle com sua cores primárias que captam todo o espírito boêmio da noite portenha, também onipresente na trilha sonora composta de tangos. Mexeu bastante comigo esse filme.

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Sylvia S.

@qxt_circle Aug 15

Poor communication, defensive listening, passive-aggressive behavior, hurtful words, and constant boundary violations—their attachment issues are way beyond minor. Watching them together feels less like love and more like a shared pathology (facepalm). Three stars for the baffling relationship dynamic, one star for the acting.

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Kalissa H

@kali_416 Jul 21

A lot of bickering but I was entertained the whole movie.

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Siwoo J

@RT61697250 06/11/2025

사랑이구나ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing 02/27/2025

One of WKW's best. It is perfect in everyway. You just don't want it to ever end. Performances by both Leung and Cheung are excellent.

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Kar-Wai Wong

Director

Leslie Cheung

Ho Po-wing

Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Lai Yiu-fai

Chang Chen

Chang

Gregory Dayton

Lover

Chan Yecheng

Producer

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Synopsis

Lai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his boyfriend, Ho (Leslie Cheung), arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong, seeking a better life. Their highly contentious relationship turns abusive and results in numerous break-ups and reconciliations. When Lai befriends another man, Chang (Chen Chang), he sees the futility of continuing with the promiscuous Ho. Chang, however, is on his own personal journey and, ultimately, both Lai and Ho find themselves far from home and desperately lonely.

Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Producer: Chan Yecheng
Screenwriter: Kar-Wai Wong
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+, Romance
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (DVD): May 16, 2006
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround