Three Times
dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien · 2005
Love transcends time and circumstance, revealing the enduring nature of human connection.
"Three Times" invites viewers on a mesmerizing journey through the intricate tapestry of love across different eras, revealing how history shapes personal connections. With its stunning visual poetry and contemplative storytelling, this film is a poignant exploration of nostalgia and the fleeting essence of human intimacy.
In three separate segments, set respectively in 1966, 1911, and 2005, three love stories unfold between three sets of characters, under three different periods of Taiwanese history and governance.
Full synopsisspoilers
(1) "A Time for Love": In 1966, in Kaohsiung, Chen meets May playing pool in a bar when he is joining the army. He sends letters to her and he comes to the bar to meet her again in his leave. However, May had traveled to another place and Chen seeks her out. (2) "A Time for Freedom": In 1911, in Dadaochend, the writer Mr. Chang works for Mr. Liang and frequently travels to a brothel, where he meets the singer.
He financially helps the courtesan Ah Mei to become a concubine. When the singer asks him if he would help her to leave the brothel, there is no answer. (3) "A Time for Youth": In 2005, in Taipei, the messy relationship of the photographer Zhen, his girlfriend Jing and a bisexual singer.
Talking points
- the nature of love across time
- the impact of historical settings on personal relationships
- silence as a narrative device
- the interplay of memory and longing
