Hong Kong Cinema at GOMA

GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque will present two extraordinary programs celebrating the legacy and influence of Hong Kong cinema: In the Mood for Maggie Cheung and John Woo: Bullet Ballets.

These curated film programs offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience the artistry and impact of two cinematic icons on the big screen. And with GOMA’s main cinema having recently undergone a full refurbishment, audiences will be treated to an enhanced viewing experience. 

This expansive retrospective honours Maggie Cheung, one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated screen icons. Known for her expressive naturalism, physical grace and inimitable screen presence, Cheung’s career spans romantic comedies, martial arts epics, arthouse dramas and horror films.

Highlights include her breakout role in Jackie Chan’s Police Story (1985), her acclaimed collaborations with Wong Kar-wai—culminating in the masterpiece In the Mood for Love (2000)—and her award-winning performance in Clean (2004), which earned her Best Actress at Cannes.

The program features over 20 films, many presented in newly restored digital formats and rare 35mm prints. A free public talk by Sydney-based writer and translator Dylan Cheung will accompany the program, offering insights into Cheung’s life and legacy on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

GOMA also presents four seminal action films from director John Woo, screened exclusively on ultra-rare 35mm prints. Woo’s signature “heroic bloodshed” style—combining operatic drama and hyper-stylised gunplay—redefined action cinema and inspired filmmakers worldwide.

The program includes A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Killer (1989), Bullet in the Head (1990), and Hard Boiled (1992)—each a masterclass in cinematic invention and emotional intensity.

These screenings mark a rare opportunity to experience Woo’s visionary work as originally intended, following the recent release of the Golden Princess studio catalogue from legal limbo.

Need to know – Box office opens one hour prior to screenings and there are no trailers prior to films.

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