Made in 1990 but set in the early 1960s, Days of Being Wild has that signature nostalgic feel of many Hong Kong films. That’s not surprising, as the city has gone through many changes over the last 200 years on very profound cultural levels. Days of Being Wild harkens back to a time when Hong Kong was beginning to take on a more international role and thus its society was changing quickly. This is reflected in the three main characters. Leslie Cheung plays a rather callous young man with a knack for breaking the hearts of women, such as the young and impressionable Li Zhen (Maggie Cheung), and the more assertive Mimi (Carina Lau). Thankfully for Li Zhen, comfort can be found with the highly dependable and compassionate police officer played by Andy Lau, a character of great impact that would go on to define the famous cop persona from Chungking Express a few years later.
Days of Being Wild, as the emotive title suggests, is essentially a smart romantic drama. However, its strongest assets lie in scene creation, acting, and cinematography. You’ll really feel like the movie transports you to a different time and place, which is what all good stories are supposed to do.
On a sad note, Days of Being Wild is one of Leslie Cheung’s best movies, and we miss him terribly since his passing in 2003.