NOW SHOWING: LONDON SCREEN GUIDE w/c 12.05.17

To help your hunt for adventurous moving pictures, RADIANT CIRCUS hand-picks London’s screen highlights for the week ahead*.

This week, London’s art galleries pitch in with interesting screenings at the Tates and Barbican, the latter part of their fascinating THE JAPANESE HOUSE exhibition.

Our featured film of the week is SPACESHIP at ICA.

FRIDAY 12 MAY 2017, Oops…

We didn’t manage to get this week’s SCREEN GUIDE out on time… sorry! We were busy working on our first RADIANT CIRCUS project (more about that later…). We hope your Friday night wasn’t too desolate…? What did you see?

SATURDAY 13 MAY 2017, 19:30, BERNIE GRANT ARTS CENTRE

Whilst we’re fans of Pansy Division and the grungier queercore movement, we will be expanding our musical horizons with PICK UP THE MIC at Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Exploring the history of homohop, the doc will be followed by panel discussion + Q&A.

Looking for an alternative? Powell and Pressburger’s A CANTERBURY TALE (BFI, 20:30) is either “hugely underrated” and one of their “most moving films”, or it’s a disastrous flop with an uncharismatic lead: you decide.

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SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM screens at BFI (14 MAY, 20:00).

SUNDAY 14 MAY 2017, 20:00, BFI

Films rarely come more adventurous – and, indeed, infamous – than Pier Paolo Pasolini’s SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM. If you haven’t seen it, hold onto your handlebars and give it a try. Of course, you might just hate us for suggesting that…

Looking for an alternative? WOMAN IN THE DUNES in 35mm at Barbican (16:00) screens as part of THE JAPANESE HOUSE: ARCHITECTURE AND LIFE AFTER 1945. Other films include THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA (3 JUNE, 16:00), CRAZY FAMILY in 16mm (11 JUNE, 16:00) and I WAS BORN, BUT… (25 JUNE, 16:00).

MONDAY 15 MAY 2017, 17:45, EVERYMAN BELSIZE PARK

A special screening of THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE includes a Q&A with survivor Moshe Tirosh who was sheltered as a boy by Antonina Zabinski and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski in the Warsaw Zoo during the Nazi occupation. According to Everyman, “Moshe has never spoken about his experiences in the UK before and this is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand the authentic voice of a zoo survivor”.

Looking for an alternative? RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO: 30TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING with cast & crew (BFI, 18:15). The original strapline – “Thatcher’s Britain with her knickers down” – just about sums up this bawdy comedy adapted by Andrea Dunbar from two of her stage plays and directed by Alan Clarke.

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THE STRAIGHT STORY screens at Genesis Cinema (16 MAY, 19:00)

TUESDAY 16 MAY 2017, 19:00, GENESIS CINEMA

One of our favourite David Lynch films, THE STRAIGHT STORY in 35mm is unlike anything else in his oeuvre but remains resolutely brilliant. As Genesis Cinema puts it: “An old man makes a long journey by lawnmower tractor to mend his relationship with an ill brother”. There really isn’t much more to it than that – which is, of course, its rare beauty.

Looking for an alternative? There are strong LGBT options tonight with DEPARTURE (19:30) at Deptford Cinema and HANDSOME DEVIL (20:30) at Regent Street. There’ll be another screening of HANDSOME DEVIL on 23 MAY (18:30) which will include a Q&A with lead actors Fionn O’Shea and Nicholas Galitzine.

WEDNESDAY 17 MAY 2017, 20:45, ICA

A homegrown space oddity, SPACESHIP + Q&A is director Alex Taylor’s debut feature and has been described by CINEMA SLASHER as “a mixture of Harmony Korine’s GUMMO and the British television series SKINS… SPACESHIP comes to life in a way that few movies do…one of the most unique films about teenage life in the past few years”. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director.

Looking for an alternative? Why not strut your stuff on the red carpet with the CANNES 70TH ANNIVERSARY (17:55) bash? Ciné Lumière will be screening the latest edition’s opening ceremony followed by CHACUN SON CINEMA, a celluloid mashup of film history (think Disney’s GREAT MOVIE RIDE with added tux).

THURSDAY 18 MAY 2017, 19:00, WHITECHAPEL

Today we have a gallery-off… VIDEOCLUB: THE JARMAN AWARD SELECTED is a programme of recent artists’ work in the moving image at the Whitechapel. The Film London Jarman Award recognises artists working in the moving images and is inspired by the experimentation, imagination and innovation of the late Derek Jarman.

Looking for an alternative? REAL ESTATE at Tate Britain (19:00) deals with the housing crisis with a particular focus on London. The screening of artist films is followed by a discussion panel focusing on the “role of visual artists and cultural workers in communities and in the development of alternative models for urban living”.


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BARRY LYNDON screens at Close-Up (14 MAY, 19:00).

FESTIVALS / SEASONS / TALKS

Barbican continues to host CIGARETTE BURNS CINEMA with the first ever UK cinema screening of EYES OF FIRE (17 MAY, 20:45).

Bertha Dochouse/Curzon Bloomsbury begins a weeklong run and UK premier of MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE NORTH, peeling back preconceptions about the citizens of North Korea.

BFI continues FASSBINDER until 31 MAY.

Close-Up continues their KUBRICK retrospective. This week’s films are THE SHINING (13 MAY, 19:30) and BARRY LYNDON (14 MAY, 19:00).

THE DUKE MITCHELL FILM CLUB has announced dates for the next DUKEFEST. Expect “premieres, 35MM action, VHS oddities, found footage and more” from 9 to 12 JULY.

The Horse Hospital hosts another talk from the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, this one on the rise of the zombie: CHIMERICAL OPTICS: HAITI, COLONIALISM AND VOODOO TERROR (18 MAY, 19:00).

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ALTERED STATES screens at The Institute of Light (15 MAY, 19:30).

ICA concludes the GIANFRANCO ROSI RETROSPECTIVE: OF PLACES AND ENCOUNTERS (13 & 14 MAY).

The Institute of Light with Science Fiction Theatre presents ALTERED STATES (15 MAY, 19:30) including a talk from Dr Andrea Rinke, GETTING HIGH ON CINEMA.

LONDON NOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL launches at the Prince Charles Cinema on 15 MAY with a screening of THE ARBITRATION (18:30).

And finally…

SERET LONDON – THE ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL has opened at JW3 (12 to 17 May).


More places to shelter from the storm in next week’s GUIDE.


*As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any mistakes.

Featured image: SPACESHIP (2016).