Poignant sequel is less episodic than it’s predecessor, and more explicit in its social criticism, and yet so glowing in its adoration of Hong Kong that it’s impossible not to be charmed. In 2046, atop a peak overlooking a very space-age Hong Kong, aged but surgically enhanced hooker Sandra Ng regales suicidal Chapman To with more tales of her life. Where the first film covered nearly 30 years of the city’s evolution, this one focuses on one eventful year, 2003, in which our scatty-but-stoic heroine develops a touching almost-friendship with doctor Leon Lai, who’s having difficulty coping with the SARS outbreak, inherits a restaurant from customer Anthony Wong (who dies during sex with her), helps lost soul Ronald Cheng reunite with old flame Angelica Lee and discovers that a marriage proposal from mainland cousin Jacky Cheung comes with financial strings attached. “You know how to appreciate because you’ve suffered. Hong Kong's history is just the same,” she says at one point, and one feels that never were truer words said about a city and its people. Incredibly funny, heartfelt valentine to Hong Kong is steeped in rich allegory and commentary that doesn’t offer easy answers but provides an optimistic outlook for the region and its weary but resourceful inhabitants. Fantastic soundtrack includes four songs by George Lam, one song by Jacky Cheung, two songs by Ronald Cheng, plus his duet with Sandra Ng, one song by Wen Chien-yu and Rebecca Pan’s classic “Kowloon Hong Kong,” among others.