To celebrate 130 years of cinema, this year's Hong Kong French Film Festival is offering more than twenty films in its ‘Retrospective’ section.
Cleo from 5 to 7(1962) by Agnès Varda
Cleo from 5 to 7 is a New Wave masterpiece directed by Agnès Varda, which follows in real time the two hours a Parisian singer, Cleo (played by Corinne Marchand), spends waiting to find out the results of a biopsy. Through her wanderings around Paris in 1961, the film explores the fear of death, the superficiality of social relationships and the search for meaning.
This film left its mark on its generation with its real-time narration, innovative staging and critical view of society. It was praised for its ability to capture existential angst with a unique feminine sensibility, offering a perspective that was rare in the cinema of the time. Cleo from 5 to 7 remains a timeless work, celebrated for its modernity and emotional depth.
Hate(1995) by Mathieu Kassovitz
In Hate, Mathieu Kassovitz plunges the viewer into a day in the life of three young men from the Paris suburbs: Vinz, Saïd and Hubert. Between the streets of their neighbourhood and the avenues of Paris, the film intensely captures the tensions and contradictions of their environment, where social injustice and urban conflicts punctuate everyday life.
This feature film stands out for its striking black and white imagery, its almost palpable energy and its lucid view of young people confronted with exclusion and violence. More than just a story, it offers an immersion into a world often ignored by the general public, while questioning the relationship between suburban residents and the society around them.
Acclaimed by critics for its visual power and realism, Hate remains an essential film of 1990s French cinema, which continues to inspire and provoke thought today.
Amelie(2001) by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Paris is always magical, but with Amelie, every street corner becomes a theatre of small wonders. The film tells the story of Amelie, a shy and dreamy young woman who decides to change the lives of those around her through small gestures, while searching for happiness and love herself.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes us into a world where everyday life is transformed into poetry: the colours, unusual details and colourful characters create a unique, gentle and tender atmosphere. What makes Amélie so charming is her ability to observe the world with wonder, to find beauty in simple gestures and to invite us to do the same.
The film made its mark on French cinema with its inimitable visual style and enchanting tone. Praised for its inventiveness and subtle humour, it remains a work that continues to appeal to all generations.
The Chorus(2004) by Christophe Barratier
The Chorus tells the story of Clément Mathieu, a musician with a big heart who becomes a supervisor at a boarding school for difficult boys. With patience, humour and humanity, he creates a choir that reveals his pupils' hidden talent and emotions, gradually changing everyday life at the boarding school.
The film captivates audiences with its sensitivity, unforgettable music and benevolent view of childhood and education. The melodies composed by Bruno Coulais and performed by the young actors stir the emotions, and the story touches children and adults alike, reminding us of the importance of passion, hope and solidarity.
This year, the Hong Kong French Film Festival will have the honour of welcoming Gérard Jugnot, who plays Clément Mathieu on screen, as a special guest. His presence promises to enrich the screening and offer viewers a unique opportunity to meet and share their thoughts on this film, which has become a classic of French cinema.
