Are You Lonesome Tonight? (film)

Are You Lonesome Tonight?  is a 2021 Chinese neo-noir film directed by Wen Shipei and starring Eddie Peng and Sylvia Chang.

Plot
In 1997, an air conditioner repairman accidentally hits a man with his car late at night and decides to cover it up. He later meets the victim's widow and befriends her. A police detective investigates the case when the body is found riddled with bullets.

Cast

 * Eddie Peng
 * Sylvia Chang
 * Wang Yanhui
 * Zhang Yu
 * Jiang Peiyao
 * Lu Xin
 * Chen Yongzhong
 * Deng Fei

Production
This was director Wen Shipei's first feature-length film, after having previously directed two short films in 2015 and 2016. The basis for the film came from a pitch at the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival. Shipei has said that the story was inspired by his father, who was a petty criminal in the 1990s. The film takes its English-language title from the song "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" which appears in the film, whereas the Chinese-language title translates as "Tropical Memories".

Release
The film was released theatrically in China on June 21, 2021. The film was shown at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Box office
The film grossed US$6.9 million in theaters.

Critical reception
Several critics compared the film to the works of director Wong Kar-wai. Bobby Lepire, writing for Film Threat, compared the visual style of the film to Blade Runner.

Accolades
The film was nominated for a Caméra d'Or at Cannes and received an audience award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.