This flick is based on a well known novel by Eileen Chang. This flick is not your typical love story. The main characters in the story, Pai Liu Su (Cora Miao) and Fan Liu Yuan (Chow Yun Fat), are not like Romeo and Juliet. In fact, they have a very ambiguous relationship to say the least. Liu Yuan is a rich playboy who says he loves Liu Su, but doesn’t want to marry her. Maybe Liu Su isn’t sure because of Liu Yuan’s playboy image, I don’t know. Nevertheless, you can tell that Liu Su likes the guy, but isn’t really sure of him. That’s why she puts on her poker face and goes back to Shanghai to see if Liu Yuan will still want her. Her gamble pays off as Liu Yuan begs her to come back to Hong Kong. Shortly after, Liu Yuan has to go to England for business sans Liu Su. Liu Yuan rents out a house for Liu Su, but then Japan invades Hong Kong, thus cutting the trip to England short. While back in Hong Kong, Liu Yuan without money is basically reduced to a “normal” everyday guy who makes Liu Su love him more. With all the pandemonium and damage going on with the Japanese invasion, the twosome settles down as an ordinary couple while Hong Kong falls.