Films in London today: PAIN AND GLORY at ArtHouse Crouch End (23 to 29 AUG).
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NOW BOOKING: Tarantino x Almodóvar seasons at Genesis Cinema

London’s favourite, Genesis Cinema (not our words, but those of the recent Time Out 25 Best Cinemas where they polled first!) celebrates two modern auteurs with mini seasons wrapped around their latest releases (AUG 2019). Here’s everything you need to know.

Films in London: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, part of TARANTINO ON SCREEN-O at Genesis Cinema.

By RADIANT CIRCUS

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Two filmmakers, two surnames, no more words required. Both have committed their latest works to reflections on the film industry. One, Almodóvar, giving us “an ageing film director in retreat from his profession, facing ill health, depression and the decline of his powers.” The other, Tarantino, delivering “a pulp-fictionally redemptive take on the Manson nightmare in late-60s California: a B-movie loser’s state of grace.” (both quotes from Peter Bradshaw writing in The Guardian). As we have come to expect, Genesis Cinema is serving them up with a smorgasbord of additional screenings and some special features.

Films in London: JACKIE BROWN, part of TARANTINO ON SCREEN-O at Genesis Cinema.

TARANTINO ON SCREEN-O marks the release of Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) with “some of his better contributions to the world of cinema” (which suggests Genesis shares at least some of our own hedged opinions about this once deified filmmaker…).

Screenings include: NATURAL BORN KILLERS 35mm d. Oliver Stone, 1994 (05 AUG 21:10); RESERVOIR DOGS d. Quentin Tarantino, 1992 (06 AUG 21:00); FROM DUSK TIL DAWN d. Robert Rodriguez, 1996 + Intro/Salon with Nick Walker (08 AUG 18:15); PULP FICTION d. Quentin Tarantino, 1994 (08 AUG 20:45 – Includes a FREE pint of something Truman’s); TRUE ROMANCE d. Tony Scott, 1993 (09 AUG 21:10); JACKIE BROWN d. Quentin Tarantino, 1997 (12 AUG 20:30); and, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS d. Quentin Tarantino, 2009 (13 AUG 20:30).

Films in London: FROM DUSK TIL DAWN, part of TARANTINO ON SCREEN-O at Genesis Cinema.

Our pick of this bunch would be Rodriguez’ FROM DUSK TIL DAWN (08 AUG) simply because it comes packaged with an intro and post-screening Salon with Nick Walker of Rochester Kino fame. Fast-becoming a national treasure of London’s alternative cinema scene, Nick brings great company, expert insight and casual facilitation to acts of film appreciation, balancing the “must say everything I know on the subject” film students with the “wasn’t quite sure what to make of it” first timers. As to the film, Genesis Cinema has the words: “without a doubt one of the great B-Movies of the modern era. And if you somehow don’t know what the Act 2 gear-shift entails? You MUST see it on the big screen!”. We certainly won’t spoil it here…

Films in London: WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, part of ALMODÓVAR: KING OF SPAIN at Genesis Cinema.

ALMODÓVAR: KING OF SPAIN celebrates the cinema of the Spanish maestro ahead of the release of his latest, PAIN & GLORY aka Dolor Y Gloria (2019).

Screenings include: WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN d. Pedro Almodóvar, 1988 (02 AUG 21:00); VOLVER d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2006 (13 AUG 18:15); TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! d. Pedro Almodóvar, 1989 (16 AUG 21:20); and, THE SKIN I LIVE IN d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2011 (22 AUG 21:00).

As both Tarantino and Almodóvar retreat into their surnames, we tend to favour their earlier, nimbler works which makes WOMEN ON THE VERGE… our must-see pick of this season. Having said that, we’d camp out (read that as you will…) for more screenings of ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER.

And that’s the meat of it…

GENESIS CINEMA

Genesis Cinema is a family-owned venue on Mile End Road that offers incredible variety and value-for money (the blankets provided in their epic – and therefore hard to heat – main screen are also a welcome part of their charm. Not content with offering home to such varied exhibitors as Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, Filikino, Birds’ Eye View, Rochester Kino/Cult Classic Collective, CineSisters and many others, they also screen regular free events in their Bar Paragon which make this a great venue for lovers of screen-culture in all its forms. And yes, now officially London’s favourite.

Web genesiscinema.co.uk | Instagram @genesiscinema | Twitter @genesiscinema

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*THE SMALL PRINT: As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Updates & corrections will be made to the online version. Event dates/times are subject to change by the venue/organiser. We try to only list events you can book for at the time of posting: however, some events may still be sold out. Please click quickly! We don’t filter by age/certification: all readers & subscribers should be 18+.