For the 2025 French May Cinema Programme,, Alliance française is proudly presenting 8 exceptional French movies. Going from the dynamic and stimulating city of Tokyo to the heart of Paris, passing by the awe inspiring landscapes of South Korea, this year’s themes are centered on Biopic Cineart, especially on commemorating great figures of the French Culture by the likes of Aznavour (Monsieur Aznavour), Sarah Bernhardt (The Divine Sarah Bernhardt) or even Niki de Saint Phalle (NIKI). France Asia Bridges is also a big theme this year, that delves into the cultural exchange between France and Asian countries, with movies such as Winter in Sokcho, A Missing Part and A Traveler’s Needs. Don't miss out on two special events that add even more excitement to the programme : a historic and restored 4K Ultra HD screening of Maria Callas at the Paris Opera in 1958, preceded by a presentation, and Holy Cow, a tribute to rural life directed by Louise Courvoisier, which has received numerous awards at Cannes and the Césars.
Guide to French May Cinema Programme
Monsieur Aznavour
Retracing the life of Charles Aznavour (1924-2018), a famously known French-Armenian singer, writer and actor, from his poor childhood to his rise to fame, you will get to see Monsieur Aznavour from all angles.
Born in Paris in 1924 as the son of Armenian refugee’s, Charles Aznavour childhood are spent in poverty but distinguished by his parent’s passion for music and theatre. He will himself attempt at a showbiz career in his early days but while talented, he would not see the light of day until the age of 26, when he finally realizes his own ambitions, his empathetic songs about heartbreaks, confusions and passions of the common man.
Le Parisien : “A rich, moving and rhythmic feature film.”
Public : “A superb and powerful tribute.”
Directed by :
Grand Corps Malade
Mehdi Idir
Starring :
Tahar Rahim
Marie Julie Baup
Bastien Bouillon
The Divine Sarah Bernhardt
Presented at the closing of the 2024 Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, "La Divine" pays tribute to an icon of French heritage.
1915, Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) is considered one of the greatest tragedians of her time. Before the invention
of cinema, she was the first world star, her daring personality and acting skill will be put on the front stage by famous French names
in the likes of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo. From love affairs to dramatic death scenes, Guillaume
Nicloux
decadent biopic is an experience like no other.
Positif: “A
luxurious and seductive production.”
Ouest France :
“A whirling and
successful portrait.”
Directed by :
Guillaume Nicloux
Starring :
Sandrine Kiberlain
Laurent Lafitte
Amira Casar
Niki
Having its world premiere at the ''Un Certain Regard'' section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Niki reveals the moving birth of a major artist of the 20th century and also that of a very promising director.
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002), a French-American sculptor, painter and also an aspiring actor, together with her husband and two-year-old daughter, flee the US during the oppressive McCarthy era and come to Paris where they experienced a short lived euphoria. Just as secrets cannot be forgotten, talent cannot always lie dormant. When Niki is forced to face her demons, will she find something beautiful in the darkness?
CinemaTeaser: “Cinema in it's majesty.”
Sud
Ouest :
“A dense and powerful film.”
Directed by :
Céline Salette
Starring :
Charlotte Le Bon
John Robinson
Damien Bonnard
A Missing Part
After learning about post-divorce parental custody rights in Japan, director Guillaume Senez got inspired to write A Missing Part. The poignant story of a father who isn’t allowed to be a father, a system that won’t allow joint custody and the people caught in-between.
Jay, a former chef, quit his job and became a taxi driver in the hopes of one day finding his daughter Lily. Since he and his wife got separated 9 years ago, Jay has never been able to get custody of his child. Having lost hope of ever seeing her again, he is about to move back to France when Lily hops in his cab. But she doesn’t recognize him.
Le Figaro : “A story of
fatherhood treated without melodrama.”
Le
Parisien :
“A magnificent, heartbreaking film,
punctuated with notes of lightness.”
Directed by :
Guillaume Senez
Starring :
Romain Duris
Judith Chemla
Mei Cirne-Masuki
Winter in Sokcho
Adapted from the novel of the same title, Koya Kamura captured with remarkable sensibility what the novel did so well, exploring the universal themes of identity, solitude and intercultural relations.
In the small coastal city of Sokcho, Soo-Ha, a 23 years old French-Korean woman works in a boarding house. When Yan Kerrand, a French comic book author, arrives in her workplace, it awakens within her questions about her own identity, and that of her other French father of whom she knows almost nothing.
Ouest France: “A marvel of
delicacy.”
La
Croix : “A film of subtle and graphic beauty.”
Directed by :
Koya Kamura
Starring :
Roschdy Zem
Bella Kim
Park Mi-hyeon
A Traveler's needs
Winner of a Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale, the latest film by the indispensable and prolific Hong Sang-soo invites Isabelle Huppert to Seoul and explores the hypothesis of a cinema of the pure moment.
Iris, a woman who finds herself adrift in Seoul and without any means to make ends meet, turns to teaching French via a very peculiar method. Through a series of encounters, as we grow to know more about Iris and her situation, the mysteries of her circumstances only deepen.
Elle : “A contemplative film of
great poetry.”
Télérama : “A playful and fascinating film.”
Directed by :
Hong Sang-Soo
Starring :
Isabelle Huppert
Hye-Young Lee
Hae-Hyo Kwon
Callas-Paris, 1958
Maria Callas, the quintessential diva and the face of 20th-century opera, made her Paris debut with this iconic performance
at the Paris Opera on December 19, 1958, for one night only.
Callas appeared on the famous stage wearing her most elegant clothes and million-dollar jewelry. The repertoire of this show showcases
Callas at her best, both in recital and as an actress. The visual elements were as important as the vocal dimensions of her art.
Directed by :
Tom Volf
Starring :
Maria Callas
Albert Lance
Jacques Mars
Holy Cow
During the 2024 Cannes Festival, Holy Cow marks Louise Courvoisier as a powerful new voice in cinema, winning the festival’s prestigious Youth Prize in the Un Certain Regard category.
Eighteen-year-old Totone spends most of his time drinking beer and hitting the dance floors of the Jura with his friends. But reality catches up with him : he has to take care of his 7-year-old sister and find a way to earn a living. He then sets his mind to making the best Comté cheese in the region, one which would win him the gold medal in the agricultural competition and 30,000 euros.
20 Minutes : “A gem of accuracy
and sensitivity.”
Franceinfo
Culture :
“A funny and poetic portrait of rural youth.”
Directed by :
Louise Courvoisier
Starring :
Clément Faveau
Maïwène Barthèlemy
Luna Garret
Check our full programme for French May Cinema Programme
Become a member at Alliance Française de Hong Kong and borrow the DVDs of more French films at the library at Jordan Center!
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