CineFan Sept/Oct Programme: Crimes and Misdemeanours – The Eccentric Cinema of the Coen Brothers
Titled Crimes and Misdemeanours – The Eccentric Cinema of the Coen Brothers, this unique showcase celebrates the Coen Brothers' unconventional storytelling style with a carefully curated selection of ten films that exemplify their signature blend of offbeat narratives, intricate twists, and dark humour.
From their impressive debut with the dark and violent neo-noir film BLOOD SIMPLE to the critically acclaimed FARGO, which earned Frances McDormand her first Best Actress Oscar, and the Cannes-winning THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, as well as the Oscar-winning NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, the Coen Brothers' films continue to captivate audiences and garner critical acclaim.
Known for their ability to seamlessly transition between various styles and genres while maintaining their playful approach to subverting storytelling conventions, the Coen Brothers have created a distinctive cinematic universe populated by cunning criminals and eccentric characters. From the quick-thinking mob accomplice in MILLER'S CROSSING to the egotistical playwright in BARTON FINK and the dim-witted protagonist in THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, these unforgettable characters find themselves entangled in grisly and absurd circumstances, solidifying the Coen Brothers' reputation as one of the most original voices in filmmaking.
In addition to the Coen Brothers' retrospective, Cine Fan also pays tribute to the late Jiří Menzel, a pioneering Czech New Wave movement giant. The programme, titled Too Absurd a Reality: A Jiří Menzel Retrospective, showcases eight of Menzel's classic films.
Menzel's unique blend of comedic satire, whimsical storytelling, and compassionate worldview is on full display in these films. His remarkable collaboration with Bohumil Hrabal, one of the best-known Czech writers of the 20th century, resulted in five acclaimed features that vividly depict the absurdity of life under totalitarian regimes while reflecting the tumultuous history of Czechoslovakia. Cine Fan's line-up includes the Oscar-winning CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS, the Berlinale Golden Bear winner LARKS ON A STRING (after a 21-year ban), CUTTING IT SHORT, THE SNOWDROP FESTIVAL (both from the country life trilogy), and the visually stunning epic I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND.
Complementing the Menzel retrospective are additional screenings of British director Carol Reed's wartime intrigue and espionage thriller NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH, as well as two classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema – Frank Capra's lively romantic comedy and feelgood fantasy MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN and Preston Sturges' comic masterpiece SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, featuring the vivacious Veronica Lake. The ingenious screenplays and timeless wit of these films offer intriguing comparisons to the dark comedies of the Coen Brothers.Programme Enquiries: cinefan.hkiff.org.hk / 2970 3300 / info@hkiff.org.hk
Website: https://cinefan.hkiff.org.hk
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