O Mon Dieu!

Our obsession with all things Gallic is nothing new. Whether it’s the allure of Parisian fashion labels or a craving for haute cuisine, Hong Kong’s love affair with the French began well before we tasted our first rose-scented macaron or laid eyes on a luminous Hermes silk scarf. Over half a century ago, in 1954, Alliance Française set up its first Hong Kong outpost, offering courses to Hongkongers in the language of love with a coquettish dash of “je ne sais quoi”—and amour it was. A non-profit association that primarily runs language classes, Alliance Française has also been at the forefront of disseminating French culture across the territory through close collaboration with the French Consulate. The joint partnership is responsible for some of the most popular French cultural festivals in town, including the French Cinepanorama (a French film festival held every November), La Francophonie, and their biggest annual event, Le French May.

Already in its 19th season, Le French May remains a testament to the burgeoning French community here, some 13,000 strong, which grows steadily when about 100 new Frenchmen arrive on our shores each and every month. “I’m really struck by the French presence in this city, and also by how Hongkongers have a taste for the French ‘art de vivre,’” says Arnaud Barthelemy, the new French Consul General of Hong Kong and Macau.

Over $30 million (including contributions from numerous corporate sponsors) have been poured into this year’s festival, which, in turn, has invested in attracting world-class acts. The event also prioritizes hosting gratis events for the public, such as the photography exhibition by Philippe Ramette on display at the Avenue of the Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui. “Our aspiration is to bring artists as close as possible to the public with master classes, free access events and free concerts,” says Barthelemy.

Violin virtuoso Laurent Korcia, who has brought television hosts to tears while performing live, starts off the festivities with a repertoire of moving musical scores from film classics including “Cinema Paradiso” and “Schindler’s List.” Korcia will be playing his exquisite 1719 Stradivarius violin (on loan from LVMH) alongside the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He is just one of a handful of French musical talents that will share the stage with local orchestras in a cross-cultural artistic exchange.

While some may perceive the French arts scene as highbrow, this year there is a concerted shift in focus towards more contemporary art forms, including performances by second-generation immigrant artists, which present a unique glimpse into France’s subculture. Le Festival marks the reunion of IAM, a rap group that gained international notoriety in the 90s for their lyrical genius and musical collaborations with the Wu Tang Clan. Band mates Akhenaton (Philippe Fragione), Shurik’n (Geoffroy Mussard), Khéops (Eric Mazel), Imhotep (Pascal Perez) and Kephren (François Mendy) have shaped Franco-Maghreb rap by confronting issues of poverty, violence and racism endured by immigrants (particularly those of North African descent) in the rough streets of Marseilles.

French hip-hop also finds its way into the festival through innovative choreography of contemporary dance troupe Company Käfig. Director Mourad Merzouki, the brainchild behind memorable shows such as the critically-acclaimed “Agwa” that combined Brazilian capoeira with deft circus acrobatics and bossa nova beats, stages his latest masterpiece, “Boxe Boxe.” A mélange of his childhood passion for boxing with his signature street style, Merzouki fuses hip-hop and breakdancing and sets the result to the tune of classical music, resulting in an unexpected work that is at once physically challenging and artistically profound. Similarly, “Blue Lady,“ led by American Carolyn Carlson Dance Company stages a dazzling array of expressive modern dance, performed by none other than Finnish dancer Tero Saarinen.

Multiculturalism is good because it shows all sorts of artists,” says Rafael Grynberg, Cultural Affairs Coordinator at Alliance Française. “The French May is about showing all sorts of French art, from classical to the most contemporary on the scene in terms of creation.”