Three Times

This film explores love across different eras through three distinct stories, each featuring the same two lead actors in different roles. The first segment, 'A Time for Love,' follows a pool player in 1966 Taipei who falls for a bar hostess. 'A Time for中間' (A Time for Middle Age) is set in 2001 and depicts a lawyer's affair with a singer. The final story, 'A Time for Remembrance,' takes place in 2005, where a woman suffering from leukemia navigates a relationship with a photographer.

Three Times received critical acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of love and its visual artistry. Critics lauded Hou Hsiao-Hsien's direction and the performances of the lead actors, particularly their versatility in portraying different characters across distinct time periods. The film was noted for its contemplative pace and its exploration of themes of connection, time, and desire.

• Praised for its elegant direction and visual beauty.

• The performances of Shu Qi and Chang Chen are highlighted for their range.

• Appreciated for its nuanced exploration of love and its different manifestations across time.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the film's artistic merit and the compelling performances. Many appreciate the unique structure of telling three interconnected love stories and find the film to be a thought-provoking and visually striking experience. Some viewers found the pacing to be slow, but overall, it is considered a sophisticated and moving piece of cinema.

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

The film's three segments were shot sequentially, and the actors, Shu Qi and Chang Chen, reportedly maintained a distance from each other between segments to better embody the different relationships and time periods they were portraying.