Most misunderstood movie ever - explanation inside

It seems like most viewers have completely missed the subtext of what this movie was really about.

Made in 2000, shortly after Hong Kong was transferred from the British to China, this movie is all about colonial rule, independence of the Asian countries and Pan-Asianism.

The choice of time when this movie is set is no accident. The main two characters represent Hong Kong and Singapore. Their marriages represent being under colonial rule. Their spouses cheat on them and make them feel neglected.

In their conversations, the protagonists discuss how they would be better off without marriage, being independent. But even when they go to a restaurant together, they order the food that their spouses would prefer, even if they don't like it - representing the lasting Western influence on them from the colonial rule; they struggle to shake it off, even though they don't enjoy it; the food they eat is foreign to them.

The themes of Pan-Asianism play strongly throughout the movie. The two characters are very careful not to repeat similar wrongs as their spouses and try to keep their relationship platonic. This represents the fear of China subjugating Hong Kong, replacing British colonial rule with Chinese colonial rule. Instead they want to live in unity, yet free.

Note that the woman from who they are renting the apartment is scolding the female protagonist for wanting to get independence and break the colonial ties - telling her she should stick with her husband, "The West". It is significant that that woman moves to the US at the end of the movie, showing where her loyalties really lie.

The fact that the man moves to Singapore in 1963 is also significant. Singapore just got independence that year, and his move represents the man's commitment to pan-asianism and the independence movement. Cambodia also achieved independence by then, so that ties into the whole theme of the movie. De Gaulle's visit was included to further reinforce the message.

The friend of the male character, who borrows 30$ from him and represents the cynicism of some of the people, rejecting the pan-asian idealism represented by the male protagonist, only interested in satisfying the basic instincts (shown in him only being interested in food and sex).

People moving from Hong Kong because of uncertainty over its future in the end represents the anxiety among the people of Hong Kong about its future after the end of British rule over it, which was very widespread around the time when this movie was made.

Such a shame that this amazing movie is so misunderstood by most.