NOW SHOWING: LONDON SCREEN GUIDE w/c 31.03.17
To help your hunt for adventurous moving pictures, RADIANT CIRCUS hand-picks screen highlights for the week ahead*. This week it’s an eclectic mix of films and formats with Close-up delivering some provocative Thai films and Prince Charles Cinema pushing the boat out for lovers of all things celluloid.
Our featured film of the week is Close-up’s SHAKESPEARE MUST DIE.
FRIDAY 31 MARCH 2017, 19:30, CLOSE-UP
SHAKESPEARE MUST DIE starts TOIL & TROUBLE: THE FILMS OF ING K at the Close-up Film Centre. Banned in its home country for “content that causes divisiveness among the people of the nation”, this word-for-word transposition of Macbeth to contemporary Thailand results in a unique fusion of “Shakespearean royal drama, TV soap and Thai folk opera”. Ing K’s films range from longform documentary to fantastic fictions inspired by John Waters and her self-confessed horror movie addiction. The weekend includes CENSOR MUST DIE (1 APRIL, 19:00) about Ing K’s struggles to repeal the ban.
Looking for an alternative? THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE (21:30) at Picturehouse Central is the surgical spirit follow-up from TROLL HUNTER director, André Øvredal.
SATURDAY 01 APRIL 2017, 14:00, CINE LUMIERE
LA TORTUE ROUGE (aka THE RED TURTLE) at Ciné Lumière begins with a talk by composer Laurent Perez del Mar. This delightful Wild Bunch/Studio Ghibli collaboration without dialogue is part of ALL ABOUT PIANO! at Institut Français.
Looking for an alternative? MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO (11:00) at Barbican is another warm hug of a movie and part of their FRAMED FILM CLUB for young people.
SUNDAY 02 APRIL 2017, 14:00, CINE LUMIERE
We return to ALL ABOUT PIANO! for a FRENCH CLASSICS CINE CONCERT featuring live piano accompaniment from John Sweeney for Renoir’s LA FILLE DE L’EAU and short film LA BALLET MECANIQUE.
Looking for an alternative? Jacques Tourneur and Val Lewton’s I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (20:40) screens as part of BFI’s always-on CULT strand. Made long before Romero poured gore on the concept, Tourneur’s film is full of atmosphere and subtle thrills.
MONDAY 03 APRIL 2017, 18:20 & 20:45, PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA
One cinema, two very different films, a lot of celluloid. Start your evening with GLORY in 35mm (18:20), Edward Zwick’s masterful study of the American Civil War and its rarely-told tale of the first all-black volunteer company.
Looking for an alternative? Head downstairs for something a little more unhinged with BRAINSTORM in 70mm (20:45) c/o Cigarette Burns. Whilst the trailer might possibly be the best thing about this movie, it’s worth a go in glorious 70mm.
TUESDAY 04 APRIL 2017, 21:00, CURZON BLOOMSBURY
TICKLING GIANTS is part of the laudable DOCHOUSE FIRSTS programme, giving screen time to brilliant world documentaries that don’t have a UK distributor. TICKLING GIANTS tracks Egyptian Bassem Youssef’s decision to leave his job as a heart surgeon to become a full-time comedian and establish the satirical show, AL BERNAMEG.
Looking for an alternative? Werner Herzog’s AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD is at the ICA (16:05). If you haven’t seen it, do so without hesitation.
WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL 2017, 18:30, TATE MODERN
FABRIZIO TERRANOVA: DONNA HARAWAY: STORY TELLING FOR EARTHLY SURVIVAL at Tate Modern includes a discussion with filmmaker and subject. This “playful and candid portrait of one of the most important living thinkers” also screens on 6 APRIL.
Looking for an alternative? THE SACRIFICE (18:00) at ICA includes an introduction by Layla Alexander-Garrett, writer, photographer and friend of legendary Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky.
THURSDAY 06 APRIL 2017, 19:00, THE HORSE HOSPITAL
TONY CONRAD: COMPLETELY IN THE PRESENT concludes two days of tribute to the radical artist and filmmaker.
Looking for an alternative? TO DIE LIKE A MAN (20:30) at BFI FLARE “tells the melancholic tale of Tonia, a disillusioned drag performer lamenting the disappointments in her life”.
FESTIVALS / LONGER RUNS / TALKS
THE ALIBI starts a week of Russian films (19:00 daily). Pick from: BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (MON); MOSCOW DOES NOT BELIEVE IN TEARS (TUES); BALLAD OF A SOLDIER (WEDS); THE CRANES ARE FLYING (THURS). More movies until SUNDAY 9 APRIL.
FASSBINDER continues at BFI. Their new programme INDIA ON FILM explores films and filmmaking, kicking things off with a panel discussion BOLLYWOOD 2.0: CURRENT TRENDS AND NEW DIRECTIONS.
KINOTEKA – the Polish Film Festival – continues across London.
And finally…
ORAMA IMMERSIVE JOURNALISM FESTIVAL takes place at Frontline Club on 31 MARCH and 01 APRIL including sessions looking at storytelling in VR, immersive content for social impact and multi-sensory experience.
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: SHAKESPEARE MUST DIE (2011).