Cine Fan Nov/Dec 2026 Programme
Cine Fan’s November-December lineup features two major programmes with sharply contrasting sensibilities: a Michael Haneke retrospective exploring the emotional and moral fault lines of bourgeois society, and a selection of Romanian New Wave films offering a satirical look at the absurdities of life in and after Ceaușescu’s Romania.
Renowned for his piercing style, Michael Haneke offers a dispassionate examination of mass media, postmodern culture, and social inequality, compelling audiences toward profound self-reflection. Under the title Anatomy of Violence: Michael Haneke, the programme presents nine of his feature films alongside a seven-session film course led by scholars and film critics.
The retrospective begins with his ‘Glaciation Trilogy’ — The Seventh Continent, Benny’s Video, and 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance — which unpacks the roots of emotional alienation in modern society. Haneke’s provocative exploration of media violence found its most confrontational form in 1997’s Funny Games — and its subsequent English-language auto-remake in 2007 — which remains one of cinema’s sharpest critiques of sensationalism.
His collaborations with Juliette Binoche, Code Unknown and Hidden, dissect the comfortable facade of middle-class life with scalpel-like precision. Meanwhile, The Piano Teacher, with Isabelle Huppert, and Amour, with Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant, delve deep into the darker impulses of human nature. The Piano Teacher swept the Grand Prix and both acting awards at Cannes, while Amour earned Haneke his second Palme d’Or following The White Ribbon. Complementing the retrospective are the special screenings of Lemmings, a two-part TV film from his early television career which offers a rare glimpse into the origins of a master provocateur.
In stark contrast to Haneke’s clinical detachment, a wave of Romanian auteur directors drew inspiration from the absurdities of daily life. Combining a minimalist, dialogue-driven naturalism with fresh forms, they crafted sharp social satires defined by the dry, self-deprecating humour that became the hallmark of the Romanian New Wave. The dedicated programme The Biting Ironies of the Romanian New Wave features ten landmark films, led by Cristi Puiu’s The Death of Mr. Lazarescu which won Un Certain Regard in 2005, Corneliu Porumboiu’s 12:08 East of Bucharest which won the Caméra d’Or in 2006, and Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days which won the first Palme d’Or for Romania in 2007.
The wave continued its international acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival: Florin Șerban’s If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (2010), an oppressive look at a delinquent teenager’s inner turmoil, won the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix; Radu Jude’s eccentric historical drama Aferim! (2015) won the Silver Bear for Best Director; and Călin Peter Netzer’s Child’s Pose (2013), a chillingly realistic portrait of toxic maternal devotion, claimed the prestigious Golden Bear.
Meanwhile, the two classic psychological horror films presented in the Back to the Screen section share striking parallels with Haneke’s oeuvre — using suspense and terror as vehicles for piercing social critique. George Sluizer’s The Vanishing, hailed by Stanley Kubrick as the most terrifying film he had ever seen, leaves audiences shaken by its haunting climax. Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenábar’s debut feature Thesis swept seven Goya Awards (including Best Film and Best New Director) with its relentless exploration of media violence and voyeurism.
Full programme and schedule at https://cinefan.com.hk . Starting from 22 October, the public can purchase tickets for all screenings from URBTIX.
URBTIX
Counter Booking: URBTIX Outlets
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Telephone Booking: 3166 1288 (10am-8pm)
Mobile App: URBTIX (Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad)
Ticketing Enquiries: 3166-1100 (10am - 8pm)
