While "In The Mood For Love" took two years to complete, its sequel – "2046" – took double that time. The film was actually conceived first, when Wong picked the title as a reference to the final year of China's "One country, two systems" promise to Hong Kong. Although his plans changed and a new film developed, he simultaneously shot material for "2046", with the first footage dating back to December 1999. Wong immediately continued with the project once "In The Mood For Love" was complete, reportedly becoming obsessed with it. In Bettinson's account, it "became a behemoth, impossible to finish".