Hong Kong French Film Festival starts November 11: three city-linked films and how to choose HK$75 screenings
The 55th festival runs November 11–December 9. Its French Frames in Hong Kong section revisits the city through comedy, drama and action; a guide to three films, subtitles and Film Archive screenings.
From costume comedy to the everyday act of shaving, Hong Kong takes on different forms in French cinema. Presented by Alliance Française de Hong Kong, the 55th Hong Kong French Film Festival runs November 11–December 9, 2026, with over fifty films announced across eight venues. French Frames in Hong Kong revisits French films that have brought the city to the screen. Three films of contrasting styles offer a route into the programme.
La moustache (2005) begins its questions about memory and perception with an everyday shave.
Comedy and psychological drama begin with appearances and everyday spaces
For a comedy, consider Chinese Adventures in China (1965), directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo. Running 110 minutes, its story begins aboard a cruise to Hong Kong, as a millionaire weary of life is drawn into an unexpected fight for survival. Official stills show colourful costumes and headdresses, as well as characters squeezed into a narrow sleeping compartment. These are cinematic devices for comedy, rather than straightforward documentation of city life.
Another still from Chinese Adventures in China turns a narrow sleeping compartment into a comic setting.
La moustache (2005) turns inward. Directed by Emmanuel Carrère and starring Vincent Lindon, the 86-minute drama follows Marc after he shaves off his moustache. His wife and those around him appear not to notice, prompting doubt about what he remembers. The razor, shaving foam and expressions associated with the title are tangible in the still. Suspense begins with a familiar change in appearance, contrasting with the previous film’s exuberant costumes.
Beyond action: clothing, settings and subtitles
For action and suspense, Largo Winch (2008), directed by Jérôme Salle and starring Tom Sisley and Kristin Scott Thomas among others, runs 108 minutes. After a billionaire is killed, his secretly adopted son must establish his inheritance, find the killers and prevent a corporate takeover. Official stills range from a white shirt, documents and a formal interior to two characters facing each other by the water. Clothing, settings and the distance between people offer clues to how genre cinema establishes relationships.
Largo Winch (2008) places a confrontation in a formal interior.An outdoor still from Largo Winch places two characters face to face against a waterfront.
All three belong to French Frames in Hong Kong, but need not be approached with identical expectations. In the comedy, watch bodies and props competing for space. In La moustache, consider how everyday details disturb a character’s certainty. In Largo Winch, compare the rhythms of formal interiors and outdoor scenes. All three are listed with English subtitles: the first two are in French, while Largo Winch includes French, English, Serbian and Portuguese. Factor subtitles into the choice before buying.
HK$75 standard tickets at the Film Archive: three dates
The Hong Kong Film Archive screenings are Chinese Adventures in China at 19:00 on November 21, Largo Winch at 19:30 on November 26, and La moustache at 19:30 on November 27. The venue is at 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho. Standard tickets at the Film Archive and City Hall are HK$75; eligible full-time students, people aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, and CSSA recipients can obtain HK$60 concessions, with quotas for student and CSSA tickets. This is not a uniform price across all festival cinemas.
At Broadway Cinematheque in Yau Ma Tei, Chinese Adventures in China screens on December 1 at 19:30, Largo Winch on December 3 at 19:30, and La Moustache on December 5 at 14:00. Standard admission is HK$95, with a listed HK$10 online handling fee per ticket. Film Archive tickets go through URBTIX, where online and other specified purchasing methods also attract fees. Consult the official schedule and ticketing information. Choosing genre, subtitles and venue before comparing dates makes it easier to plan an evening than focusing only on the lowest price.
