French New Wave in Short A programme of the 15th French Speaking Festival (Fête de la Francophonie)
As we were making final preparations for this programme, we received with great shock and sadness news of Éric ROHMER’s death. Right up to just before his death at the age of 89, Rohmer was still active as a filmmaker. His last film, The Romance of Astrea and Celadon, which was shown at the Hong Kong International Film Festival a mere three years ago, dealt with his favourite subject of love, and was filled with his trademark warmth and wisdom. His demise represents a great loss to world cinema.
In addition to showing Rhomer’s Rendezvous in Paris, our retrospective programme also includes works spanning the 1950s to 1980s from two Left Bank directors from the French New Wave including Agnès VARDA and Alain RESNAIS, as well as two poignant shorts produced by Rohmer’s long-time collaborator Mary STEPHEN.
Programme 1 and Discussion: Agnès VARDA
Known as the "grandmother of French New Wave", Agnès
VARDA had no film-making experience before producing her first
film, thereby giving her films a distinct voice through her honesty and
originality. In Women Reply (1975/ 8'), all variations of women have their
moment to express themselves. Varda likes to reach past the surface of
beautiful images. For the cross-country adventure Uncle Yanko (1967/
18'/ in English with no subtitles), she explores beyond the link in her
family tree, and touches upon topics of bohemian life and American
movements. Ulysse (1982/ 21') is more than just hunting down the
subjects of a photograph Varda took in Egypt years before. It examines
the idea of memory and how it adapts to each person like a metamorphic
creature. In Coasting along the Coast (1958/ 26'), what was to be a
touristic video introducing the French Riviera, morphed into a satiric
social commentary on paradise, superficiality and the wealthy. When
watching the warm images of Varda's stylistic films, it's as though we
are being led by the hand gently into a colourful world where we may
partake in joyful new discoveries and also take on her zest for life.
Programme 2: Alain RESNAIS
Before Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) was released for the
world to treasure, Alain RESNAIS had made many short films where we
can already see his innovative artistry and social concerns. For Guernica
(1950/ 13'), he threaded together Paul ELUARD's poem with Picasso's
paintings to portray the bombing of the Spanish town Guernica. In his
award-winning work, Night and Fog (1955/ 35'), Resnais juxtaposed
long shots of then-present Auschwitz concentration camp in colour, with
black and white archival images from the past to memorialize the events
transpired and to question the injustice in the French colony of Algeria.
He touched upon African culture and colonialism again in Statues Also
Die (1953/ 30') along with director Chris MARKER. Resnais' intricate
methods of pairing experimental cinematography with socio-political
perspective is yet unmatched by other directors.
Programme 3: Éric ROHMER
Faithful Esther is looking for another man in order to make her faithless boyfriend jealous. A young woman encounters a young man from out of town and decides to date him. A painter dumps a friend to follow a woman through the streets. Three delightful vignettes form this trilogy that explores the follies, the misunderstandings and the misconceptions that are part and parcel of love. Each story unfolds perfectly, filled with Rohmer's quintessential charm, with a lovingly shot city of Paris participating fully in the proceedings. --from the booking brochure of the 20th Hong Kong International Film Festival
In additional to Éric ROHMER’s three shorts in Rendezvous in Paris (1995/ 100’), two shorts by Rohmer’s long-time collaborator Mary STEPHEN — Labyrinthe andLabyrinthe Revisited (1973 and 2005/ 7’) and A Very Easy Death (1976/ 10’) will be screened, during which the renowned film editor will also attend the after-screening discussion.
Programme 1 and Discussion: Agnès VARDA
France / Beta / Col / 73min With after-screening discussion (hosted by Centre for Humanities Research, Lingnan University)
Programme 2: Alain RESNAIS
France / 35mm / Col / 78mins
Programme 3: Éric ROHMER
France / 35mm & Beta / Col / 117mins With after-screening discussion
*
Unless otherwise specified, Programme 1, 2 and 3 are in French with
English subtitles.
Tickets
Programme 1 and Discussion: Agnès VARDA Free Admission
Reservation: ifva01@hkac.org.hk (Please provide name, contact number and number of participants)
Programme 2: Alain RESNAIS and Programme 3: Éric ROHMER
HK$50/*$30
Booklet and Booking Form
Download the 15th ifva Festival Booklet now! You may enjoy 20% off for each purchase of 10 or more tickets at standard price tickets; 30% off for each purchase of 20 or more tickets at standard price tickets on screening programmes via “ifva Group Booking Form” on or before 26 February 2010.
* Tickets for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)
recipients (Tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come-first-served basis)
Before Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) was released for the
world to treasure, Alain RESNAIS had made many short films where we
can already see his innovative artistry and social concerns. For Guernica
Faithful Esther is looking for another man in order to make her faithless boyfriend jealous. A young woman encounters a young man from out of town and decides to date him. A painter dumps a friend to follow a woman through the streets. Three delightful vignettes form this trilogy that explores the follies, the misunderstandings and the misconceptions that are part and parcel of love. Each story unfolds perfectly, filled with Rohmer's quintessential charm, with a lovingly shot city of Paris participating fully in the proceedings.
