HONG KONG—In case you have missed it, the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society announced earlier that it is slated to continue celebrating the late Jean-Luc Godard’s indelible contribution to world cinema in its Cine Fan programme from May to July.
Cine Fan’s For Ever Godard retrospective showcases over 50 feature and short films, a seminar, and an exhibition at the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival. It offers a comprehensive overview of the impactful role of the French New Wave giant, Jean-Luc Godard, and features a masterclass by Swiss producer Fabrice Aragno.
Breathless
Official Poster of Breathless. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
The tribute programme presented in four phases offers a deeper understanding of Godard’s artistic transformation throughout his career. The French New Wave section showcases Godard’s directorial debut, Breathless, which stunned the world with its non-linear narrative, use of jump cuts, and innovative mise-en-scene that changed the language of cinema forever.
In addition to his celebrated collaboration with Karina, this section also features some of his most iconic New Wave masterpieces, including his acclaimed trilogy of revolution – 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her, La Chinoise, and Week-End, both of the latter featuring Anne Wiazemsky, Godard’s second wife, who became his on-screen inspiration.
Official Photo Still from La Chinoise. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
The Revolutionary Experiments
Official Photo Still from Tout Va bien. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
Godard’s Revolutionary Experiments phase showcased his evolution into radical and political cinema through the formation of the Dziga Vertov Group and use of revolutionary rhetoric to ‘make films politically.’ Despite being criticized for solipsism, works such as The Joy of Knowledge, One Plus One, Tout va bien, and Here and Elsewhere remain crucial in understanding Godard’s relentless exploration of cinema as an art form.
Dialogue Between the Arts
Official Photo Still from Hail Mary. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
Under this period, Godard delves into intertextual analysis that relates cinema to literature, painting, and music. The trilogy of the sublime consisting of Passion, First Name: Carmen, and the highly controversial Hail Mary, along with Germany Year 90 Nine Zero and New Wave, showcases some of his most notable works of the decade.
Historical Meditations
Official Postcard of In Praise of Love. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
The final creative period of Godard’s life. He explored the relationships between the individual, cinema, and history, exemplified in In Praise of Love, Goodbye to Language 3D, and The Image Book, winner of the first-ever Special Palme d’Or at Cannes. Miéville’s penetrating drama, After the Reconciliation, also serves as a reference for understanding Godard in his rare but brilliant acting role.
Complementing the Retrospective
Official Photo Still from Fallen Angel. Image Courtesy HK International Film Festival Society.
Three classic Hollywood films complementing the retrospective inspired Godard: Samuel Fuller’s 1953 spy noir Pickup on South Street critiques postwar American capitalism, Otto Preminger’s Fallen Angel uses moral ambiguity to gain insight into humanity, and Nicholas Ray’s They Live by Night passionately portrays youth rebellion against injustice through a story of fugitive love.
Learn about the complete programme and screening schedules via Cine Fan’s official website (https://cinefan.hkiff.org.hk/en) for the months of May/June/July edition. Tickets to all screenings are available from URBTIX CINE FAN ONLINE passes (https:/cinefan.hkiff.org.hk/en).