
Three Times
2005, Romance/Gay and lesbian, 2h 10m
52 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Slowly paced, understated, and exquisitely shot, these are three lovely odes to love and longing. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
Three Times Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
May, Ah Mei, Jing
Chen, Mr. Chang, Zhen
Old Woman
Madam , Jing's mother
May's mother , Madam
Haruko , Ah Mei
Critic Reviews for Three Times
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (8)
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This is a fascinating exercise in utilising style to make subtle psychological and political statements.
August 4, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
Hsiao-Hsien reinforces his excellent cinematography with a bold use of music, featuring The Platters' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, but ultimately the running time could have been halved and he would still have made his point.
August 1, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
An emotional journey, a showcase for two fine actors, and a multifaceted picture of love.
July 14, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4 -
A film to get lost in, a fragmentary, impressionistic trilogy of fleeting moments of love that is one of the best films of the year.
July 7, 2006 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review… -
Seen in isolation, the first episode has the most satisfying plot and the last the least. But the film's achievement lies mostly in the beautifully articulated similarities and differences among the three.
June 23, 2006 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review… -
Three varieties of love: unfulfilled, mercenary, meaningless. All photographed with such visual beauty that watching the movie is like holding your breath so the butterfly won't stir.
June 23, 2006 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Three Times
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Apr 28, 2016It is always interesting to see Hou put together in the same film three stories that feel like a culmination of the main themes found in his work along so many years, even though the third leaves a lot to be desired and I find too distracting the fact that the second one is silent.Carlos M Super Reviewer
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Nov 15, 2012Love across the ages...been done to death right? Perhaps, but it often isn't done right to death. We have had epics from mainland China and the great action genre of Hong Kong so it is good to see a Taiwanese film adding to Chineses collection. Quite touching.John B Super Reviewer
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Jan 31, 2011最好的時光 is carefully emotionally balanced Taiwanese film nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festivalis. The director of this wonderfully executed story triptich is Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Featuring three chronologically separate stories of love between May and Chen, which he sets in 1911, 1966 and 2005, using the same lead actors, very talented and charming Shu Qi and Chang Chen, we are introduced to three varieties of love: unfulfilled, mercenary, meaningless. The best part of this art work is the photography which was done with such visual beauty "that watching the movie is like holding your breath so the butterfly won't stir" (that was form the Chicago Sun critic)! Even the famous Jim Jarmusch said that "Hou Hsiao-Hsien is not only the crowning jewel of contemporary Taiwanese cinema, but an international treasure" and for him "His films are... among the most inspiring of the past thirty years, and his grace and subtlety as a filmmaker remain unrivaled." I agree to a degree!Panta O Super Reviewer
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Aug 24, 2010"Three Times" is a very slow pace picture based on three different stories and three different time periods. Hou Hsiao-hsien's main focus here is the growing fondness of love, communication, and human emotions. All done almost effortlessly.Brian R Super Reviewer
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