This is a film still from LOVE dir Gaspar Noé, 2015, showing at BFI Southbank as part of CRUEL FLESH season (May 2022).

MAY 2022: What’s on in London this month

Explore what’s on in London this month with our regular epic roundup of repertory film seasons & festivals.

By RADIANT CIRCUS // Twitter @radiantcircus / Instagram @radiantcircus

#QueerHorrorNights returns with David Freyne’s THE CURED (2017) at The Castle Cinema (15 MAY 14:00) / Booking now!

Welcome to a new epic roundup of the month’s rep cinema seasons and film festivals in London.

I think I’ve got most of everything listed, but you never know… Certainly, expect more film festivals to be added as the month unfolds, but there’s quite an exciting bunch here already. Strong festival openings this month include ICA’s Frames Of Representation (dedicated to foregrounding “transgressive, unruly ‘cinema of the real’”), Queer East Film Festival (which “showcases rarely-seen queer cinema from East and Southeast Asia”), and Tongues On Fire’s UK Asian Film Festival (which celebrates “the richness and vibrancy of South Asian culture, history, arts, storytelling, and self-expression”).

In terms of seasons, I think a lot of the excitement this month hails from Anna Bogutskaya’s exhibition of CRUEL FLESH at BFI, examining the films of the ‘New French Extremity’ movement. Partly because there are some films I’m fascinated by (whilst I’ve never been totally convinced of TROUBLE EVERY DAY, I adore Fabrice du Welz’s THE ORDEAL aka Calvaire but haven’t seen either ROMANCE or IN MY SKIN, both of which gets intros from Catherine Wheatley) and also because so much of it is being shown from 35mm, which will undoubtably add the right kind of texture to these gnarliest of film offerings. Finally, there’s a lot of talent on show and whilst much attention will be paid to Gaspar Noé’s various appearances, my money is on the Q&A with Lucile Hadžihalilović following CARNE + LA BOUCHE DE JEAN-PIERRE.

In other programmes, BFI adds RETURN OF THE OUTSIDER: THE FILMS OF MIKE HODGES to their roster whilst continuing their epic ANIME season (with more engagements at the BFI IMAX) and their Big Screen Classics’ thematic focus on A QUESTION OF FAITH.

The Garden Cinema continues their classic approach to film programming by CELEBRATING SIDNEY POITIER alongside MARLON BRANDO and THE GOLDEN AGE OF FRENCH CINEMA. Ciné Lumière adds a mini season EXPLORE CÔTE D’AZUR to their aquatic odyssey, SEASCAPES: OUR OCEANS ON SCREEN.

The Prince Charles continues their commitment to actor and auteur strands, including DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, TERRENCE MALICK, RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER, and both JOHN CARPENTER and ALFRED HITCHCOCK from 4K. The West End indie has also significantly extended their WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI season (currently booking through to 27 JUL).

Close-Up devotes their May screens to their ESSENTIAL CINEMA series, including another RADIANT CIRCUS favourite, John Waters’ MULTIPLE MANIACS. Catford Mews has consulted their team about their favourite films, creating new season CULTITUDE (of which my pick of the bunch would be Walter Hill’s THE WARRIORS).

The Prince Charles and Everyman Screen On The Green continue to make it easy for audiences to enjoy 35mm (and 70mm at The PCC!) with a strong showing for their SCI-FI MOVIES strand, and Everyman are devoting Saturday lates (and early Wednesday mornings…) to PAUL VERHOEVEN and NICHOLAS CAGE.

And finally, Rooftop Film Club returns to skylines in Peckham and Stratford East.

For reasons that will be entirely obvious, I’m making CRUEL FLESH: FILMS OF THE NEW FRENCH EXTREMITY at BFI Southbank our Featured Attraction of the Month.

See you in the darkness, and stay safe,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

Book now for the next screening event supported by #ReviveTheDark, RADIANT CIRCUS’ audience-backed campaign for distinctive/DIY cinema! Sonic Cinema presents AUSTRIAN SYNAESTHETIC CINEMA at Cafe OTO (06 MAY 20:00).
ROMANCE aka Romance X dir Catherine Breillat, 1999.

CRUEL FLESH: FILMS OF THE NEW FRENCH EXTREMITY at BFI Southbank

“French cinema is not usually associated with extreme violence or graphic sex, yet here we are, celebrating the unique moment in cinema history that sent shockwaves through arthouse sensibilities. Generational anger, political frustration and an obsession with intimacy was channeled by a disparate array of filmmakers who shaped it into a new cinema of cruelty. Not all the films of the New French Extremity are horror films, but all are horrifying in their own way. They’re shaped by and fascinated with violence – intimate and societal. These films, at their core, challenge every social norm, breaking them down to their very essence. At their best, the films of the New French Extremity are transcendent; at their worst, they’re brutal.” Anna Bogutskaya, season programmer/BFI.

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

007 SEASON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN d. Irvin Kershner, 1983 (30 APR 15:00 – 4K / 05 MAY 15:00 – 4K); OCTOPUSSY d. John Glen, 1983 (07 MAY 15:15 – 4K / 12 MAY 15:15 – 4K); A VIEW TO A KILL d. John Glen, 1985 (14 MAY 15:10 – 4K / 19 MAY 15:30 – 4K); THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS d. John Glen, 1987 (21 MAY 15:00 – 4K / 26 MAY 15:00 – 4K); LICENCE TO KILL d. John Glen, 1989 (28 MAY 15:05 – 4K + Q&A with Stunt Coordinator Paul Weston for the Really007 podcast).

1982 SEASON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE LAST UNICORN d. Arthur Rankin Jr. & Jules Bass, 1982 (01 MAY 12:25); CAT PEOPLE d. Paul Schrader, 1982 (04 MAY 18:00); TRON d. Steven Lisberger, 1982 (13 MAY 15:45 / 15 MAY 12:15 / 17 MAY 15:45); FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 35mm d. Steve Miner, 1982 (13 MAY 21:00); DINER d. Barry Levinson, 1982 (18 MAY 20:35).

AKIRA KUROSAWA at The Prince Charles

ALFRED HITCHCOCK IN 4K at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): VERTIGO 4K d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1958 (27 MAY 20:45 – 4K / 01 JUN 15:05 – 4K).

A LONG WEEKEND IN 1995 at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): HEAT 35mm d. Michael Mann, 1995 (08 MAY 20:00).

ANIME at BFI Southbank

ANIME at The Prince Charles

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS (not listed elsewhere!) at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN d. Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly, 1952 (08 MAY 13:00 / 12 MAY 12:45); BLACK NARCISSUS d. Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1947 (08 MAY 15:20); EVITA d. Alan Parker, 1997 (21 MAY 20:45); SORCERER d. William Friedkin, 1977 (22 MAY 21:00 / 25 MAY 13:05); OVER THE TOP d. Menahem Golan, 1987 (27 MAY 18:10); MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO d. Gus Van Sant, 1992 (31 MAY 20:45).

BARBRA STREISAND STRAND [A STREIS-STRAND, IF YOU WILL] at The Prince Charles

BEST OF CÉSAR at Ciné Lumière

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: A QUESTION OF FAITH at BFI Southbank

BLACK & WHITE MOVIES at The Prince Charles

CATALAN CINEMA NOW! INTERSECTIONS at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LIBERTAD d. Clara Roquet, 2021 (14 MAY 18:15); COSTA BRAVA, LEBANON d. Mounia Akl, 2021 (15 MAY 18:15).

CELEBRATING MARLON BRANDO at The Garden Cinema

CELEBRATING SIDNEY POITIER at The Garden Cinema

CRUEL FLESH: FILMS OF THE NEW FRENCH EXTREMITY at BFI Southbank

CULTITUDE at Catford Mews

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE BIG LEBOWSKI dir Joel Coen, 1997 (04 MAY 21:00); THE PRINCESS BRIDE dir Rob Reiner, 1987 (06 MAY 21:00 / 11 MAY 21:00); HOUSE PARTY dir Reginald Hudlin, 1990 (13 MAY 21:00 / 18 MAY 21:00); HEATHERS dir Michael Lehmann, 1989 (20 MAY 21:00 / 25 MAY 21:00); THE WARRIORS dir Walter Hill, 1979 (27 MAY 21:00 / 01 JUN 21:00); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS dir Frank Oz, 1986 (03 JUN 21:00 / 08 JUN 21:00).

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): GREY GARDENS d. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1976 (01 MAY 18:30 / 06 MAY 20:15); MULTIPLE MANIACS d. John Waters, 1970 (01 MAY 20:15 / 29 MAY 18:30); LAST YEAR IN MARIENBAD d. Alain Resnais, 1961 (05 MAY 20:15 / 14 MAY 18:30); THE COLOUR OF POMEGRANATES d. Sergei Parajanov, 1969 (07 MAY 20:15 / 22 MAY 20:15); LIFT TO THE SCAFFOLD d. Louis Malle, 1958 (08 MAY 18:30 / 15 MAY 20:15); SONATINE d. Takeshi Kitano, 1993 (08 MAY 20:15 / 20 MAY 20:15); TOKYO STORY aka Tokyo Monogatari d. Yasujirô Ozu, 1953 (13 MAY 20:00 / 22 MAY 17:45); THEOREM d. Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1968 (14 MAY 20:15 / 21 MAY 20:15); BEAU TRAVAIL d. Claire Denis, 1999 (15 MAY 18:30 / 28 MAY 20:15); SALESMAN d. David Maysles, Albert Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin, 1969 (21 MAY 18:30 / 28 MAY 18:30).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LICORICE PIZZA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021 (01 MAY 17:30 / 03 MAY 20:40 / 05 MAY 15:30); BOOGIE NIGHTS 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997 (07 MAY 20:25).

THE FILMS OF TERRENCE MALICK at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BADLANDS 35mm d. Terrence Malick, 1973 (23 MAY 15:45 / 25 MAY 18:15).

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA at The Prince Charles

FROM THE MIND OF PAUL SCHRADER at The Prince Charles 

GASPAR NOÉ at Genesis Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LOVE d. Gaspar Noé, 2015 (16 MAY 20:50); ENTER THE VOID d. Gaspar Noé, 2009 (19 MAY 20:55); CLIMAX d. Gaspar Noé, 2018 (23 MAY 21:00); IRREVERSIBLE d. Gaspar Noé, 2002 + Intro/Salon with Nick Walker presented by The Cult Classic Collective (26 MAY 18:25).

GENESIS 23RD BIRTHDAY at Genesis Cinema

THE GOLDEN AGE OF FRENCH CINEMA at The Garden Cinema

JOHN CARPENTER IN 4K at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE FOG d. John Carpenter, 1980 (07 MAY 18:00 – 4K / 11 MAY 15:35 – 4K); ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK d. John Carpenter, 1981 (20 MAY 13:15 – 4K / 21 MAY 18:00 – 4K / 25 MAY 15:45 – 4K).

LETTERBOXD HIGH RISERS at The Prince Charles

MARTIN SCORSESE: DIRECTOR. WRITER. PRODUCER. ACTOR. at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): GOODFELLAS 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1990 (15 MAY 20:30).

MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles

NICHOLAS CAGE 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

  • Includes (check venue for listings): CON AIR 35mm d. Simon West, 1997 (07 MAY 23:00 / 11 MAY 10:30); FACE/OFF 35mm d. John Woo, 1997 (14 MAY 23:00 / 18 MAY 10:30); VAMPIRE’S KISS 35mm d. Robert Bierman, 1988 (21 MAY 23:00 / 25 MAY 10:30); THE ROCK 35mm d. Michael Bay, 1996 (28 MAY 23:00 / 01 JUN 10:30).

PAUL VERHOEVEN 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

  • Includes (check venue for listings): STARSHIP TROOPERS d. Paul Verhoeven, 1997 (04 MAY 10:30).

PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD at The Prince Charles 

  • Includes (check venue for listings): FREAKS d. Tod Browning, 1932 (06 MAY 12:25 / 10 MAY 18:00); A STAR IS BORN d. William A. Wellman, 1937 (28 MAY 12:30).

RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): KATZELMACHER d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1969 (20 MAY 15:45 / 23 MAY 18:10).

RETURN OF THE OUTSIDER: THE FILMS OF MIKE HODGES at BFI Southbank

SCI-FI MOVIES at The Prince Charles

SCREWBALL COMEDY at The Prince Charles

SEASCAPES: OUR OCEANS ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

STANLEY KUBRICK ON FILM at The Prince Charles

TWO BY EDWARD YANG at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): YI YI d. Edward Yang, 2000 (03 MAY 20:10).

TWO BY MARTIN MCDONAGH at The Prince Charles

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): AS TEARS GO BY d. Wong Kar Wai, 1988 (APR 13:00 4K / 01 MAY 20:30 / 03 MAY 12:30 – 4K / 05 MAY 18:00 – 4K); DAYS OF BEING WILD d. Wong Kar Wai, 1990 (14 MAY 18:10 – 4K / 17 MAY – 4K / 19 MAY 12:15); CHUNGKING EXPRESS d. Wong Kar Wai, 1994 (27 MAY 15:45 – 4K / 28 MAY 19:00 – 4K / 30 MAY 15:35 – 4K / 31 MAY 12:45 & 18:00 – 4K).

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Bussey Building, Peckham

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Roof East, Stratford

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*THE SMALL PRINT: Opinions author’s own. // As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version only. // Event dates/times/formats are subject to change by the venue/organiser. Events may already be sold out at the time of posting, so please click quickly. // We try to list as many original format screenings as we can (8 to 70MM), but sometimes formats change due to age of the print, availability, logistics etc, so please check ahead with your venue if the format is your thing. // All images are used in the spirit of fair use for reporting & review – no ownership is implied or intended / unless otherwise credited to RADIANT CIRCUS as the original rights holder. We will remove any images immediately upon request – just get in touch. // We don’t filter our listings by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should therefore be 18+. // Finally, we always try to follow The Carny Code by “not screwing up anyone else’s game”, but everyone can make mistakes… If something does go wrong, we will always do our best to put it right. //.