A Stanley Kubrick Odyssey【漫遊．寇比力克】
30.12.2006 - 21.01.2007

Stanley Kubrick Odysessy - Introduction

"I would not think of quarreling with your interpretation nor offering any other, as I have found it always the best policy to allow the film to speak for itself." -- Stanley Kubrick.

Considered one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers of cinema history, Stanley Kubrick has stunned Hollywood and viewers worldwide with his mastery of various genres and his own brand of style. Precise and beautiful composition, elaborate tracking shots, powerful acting, and thought-provoking themes are the best descriptions about the works of this uncompromising cinematic maestro.
Born in The Bronx in New York City to Jewish parents in 1928, Kubrick became interested in photography at a young age, and after graduating high school he obtained a job with the primarily photographic magazine Look, first working freelance and eventually becoming a full-time staff member.

In 1950, Kubrick made his debut film, a 16-minute documentary entitled DAY OF THE FIGHT, followed by two further documentary shorts, FLYING PADRE and THE SEAFARERS. When he was just 25 years old, he made his feature debut, FEAR AND DESIRE, which however was regarded by Kubrick himself as “too amateurish”. He decided to buy back all the prints available on earth and refused to any possible screening to the public. Later on, he made two low-budget crime thrillers KILLER’S KISS and THE KILLING, and then proceeded into his first major studio production in 1957, the anti-war movie PATHS OF GLORY.

Unrestrained by a particular genre, Kubrick flexed his creative muscles on different territories, such as horror (THE SHINING), science fiction (2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY), anti-war (FULL METAL JACKET), violence (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE), satirical comedy (BARRY LYNDON) and psychosexual drama (EYES WIDE SHUT). As an American filmmaker, Kubrick nonetheless shows his fondness of the UK, and that explains why the majority of his works were shot in England, including the cult classic A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

Throughout his 49-year filmmaking career, he received nominations for Best Director at the Oscars for DR. STRANGELOVE, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and BARRY LYNDON, and he received the D.W. Griffith Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Directors Guild of America in 1997, two years before he made his last work EYES WIDE SHUT.

On March 7, 1999, Kubrick passed away in his sleep. EYES WIDE SHUT was then released in July 1999. The critically-acclaimed movie was also the first Kubrick production that became the top-grossing film when it opened. Though he has made only 13 feature films throughout his life, Kubrick never fails to impress viewers and critics with his acute depiction of the absurd and dark sides of humanity through the theme of good and evil, love and hate, sex and violence, desire and fear, fidelity and betrayal.

This retrospective “A Stanley Kubrick Odyssey” is the first complete retrospective in Hong Kong on the cinema genius, showcasing all his 12 available titles - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for film lovers to appreciate nearly all of the master’s works on big silver screen! It is also our finale programme to the 10th anniversary activities of Broadway Cinematheque (bc). As a matter of fact, 5 years ago, bc actually made its tribute to the maestro by naming the bookstore and café next to bc simply - kubrick. In other words, the 10th birthday of bc is also the 5th for kubrick the bookstore.café.disc. We take this retrospective to commemorate this special occasion, hoping our audiences once again enjoy and be thrilled by the astonishing works of this late master, and always remember the spirits and dedication of one person who devoted his whole life to filmmaking –  Stanley Kubrick.