2046 a no-show at Cannes?

It seems that Wong Kar-wai is still putting the final touches on 2046, and the film may not make it to Cannes in time for the Thursday morning press screening and public screening in the afternoon.

Filmbrain read on Sunday that Wong was working around-the-clock in Bangkok on various post-production issues. It seems that is still the case. Variety reports that only a portion of the film has been sent to Paris for subtitling. A source close to Wong said that he was still filming pickup shots two weeks ago. The press conference has already been pushed back to Friday, and the film must arrive by 6:00AM Thursday in order to be ready for the premiere that night.

A similar thing happened in 2000 with Wong's last film, In the Mood for Love. When the festival started, he was still in Cambodia filming the final scenes of the film. It arrived in Cannes on time, but without proper color timing.

2046 was originally scheduled to be at Cannes last year, but the SARS epidemic put a kink in their filming schedule. Wong is obviously a perfectionist, but will this last-minute tinkering have that much of an effect? DEVELOPING.

Comments

[luis]

Off subject, but you might know the answer to this being a New Yorker (I think you mentioned that once). Is 2046 showing at the New York International Film Festival? If so, I hope the festival takes place the beginning of October because I will be visiting NYC around that time.

[Filmbrain]

Well, the schedule hasn't been released yet, but it's a safe bet considering that In the Mood for Love premiered there, and Wong Kar-wai is a festival favorite.

If the critical response in Cannes isn't great, then they may change their minds.

A tip though -- if you are going to be in NYC for the festival, be sure to book well in advance. The tickets get snatched up very quickly.

[luis]

Thanks for the tip. I will definitely keep an eye out for the schedule.
Wong Kar Wai is well known for his perfectionism. It took him two years to film In The Mood For Love! Even though he showed an unfinished version of In The Mood For Love at the Cannes four years ago it still received critical acclaim--just might be the case again. Or am I just being unreasonably hopeful?