the notion of marital fidelity portray in the film seem outdated today and but it be exactly the main character adherence to that notion which make the entire story so touchingly tragic . it be this notion that ennoble them and allow them to stand out and to and a they refer to their respective spouse and not be like them . a tony leung say in the film and love just happens . there doesn not need to be a rational explanation a to how it happen and it simply do . despite their not want to stoop to their respective spouse level and it happen . fidelity and social more and and time all conspire against this relationship come into fruition . simply be in love be far from enough . i have the misfortune of sit beside a young couple ( still in university from the snippet of conversation they kindly share with me throughout the entire film and and uninitiated to the pain of lose love and missed opportunity ) . their gross inability to digest the subtleness and the deep emotion evoke make me realize just how much a film such a this and as well a other wong kar wei work and be waste on the local audience .