'In the Mood for Love' Original Japanese Release Mini Poster (2001)

This rare promotional poster was issued during the initial Japanese theatrical release of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love in 2001, shortly after the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and began gaining international acclaim.

The front side features a striking, sensual composition with bold red tones—Tony Leung resting on Maggie Cheung’s legs—presented in a style far more provocative than the film’s usual nostalgic visual language. This is a uniquely Japanese design interpretation, making the poster instantly collectible for its departure from the film’s more widely circulated art.

The reverse side is printed in monochrome with multiple stills from the film and Japanese-language commentary, introducing the story, cast, directorial approach, and cinematic style to Japanese audiences at the time. It offers a fascinating look at how the film was contextualised for a new cultural audience.

This poster dates back to a pivotal moment in Wong Kar Wai’s career—In the Mood for Love’s full-scale entry into the Japanese market. The tagline at the top, “愛は、もうはじまっている。” ("Love has already begun."), distills the film’s haunting emotional restraint into a single, fateful phrase. The design captures not just the film’s aesthetic, but its emotional and cultural impact in Japan at the time of release.