This is a film still from THE WAR YOU DON'T SEE (2010).

NOW STREAMING: Sands Films Cinema Club

Recommended by a reader, we checked out the streaming programme at Sands Films Cinema Club & discovered a treasure trove of free content. Next up: John Pilger’s THE WAR YOU DON’T SEE (23 FEB – FREE!).

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

We haven’t been able to spend nearly enough time searching the web for streaming content as we’d have liked during lockdowns, so we’ve been dependent upon the kindness of (relative) strangers to guide us towards the light.

South-east London outfit Sands Films was recommended by a reader and is “an independent film studio and international costumier operating in an 18th century listed building in Rotherhithe since 1975”. We’re quoting the blurb from their website in full because, well, we haven’t actually been there… But with what sounds like a curious cross of The Horse Hospital and The Cinema Museum, we really want to go!

Sands Films Cinema Club has been streaming throughout London’s various lockdowns and their next film presentation drops on 23 FEB at 20:00: John Pilger’s THE WAR YOU DON’T SEE (2010) – scroll down for details. It’s FREE to watch but you’re invited to book via the organiser’s eventbrite links (you’ll get an email reminder). You can also make a donation HERE.

Sands Films’ curated back catalogue of streaming content is available to view right now from their website. Dating back over the last several months, the range is quite remarkable, covering international features, films of their own making, and a number of shorts. Our magpie eyes were drawn to: MIRACLE IN MILAN (1951), HALLELUJAH (1929), and TOUKI BOUKI (1973).

We’ll leave the last words to our reader who recommended them (thank you!):

“This is my favourite cinema club, run by Sands Films and Olivier Stockman in Rotherhithe. Olivier always gives a short introduction to the film which is very interesting. When meeting in person, there is also a discussion afterward. It is an interesting selection of films. In the past each season has been organised by year, for example films of 1945 or films from 1990s Afghanistan. Now the programming seems a little more random but still v. interesting. If you don’t know them, it’s worth checking out. “

A Reader

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Quick links to the venue/box office.

This is a film still from THE WAR YOU DON'T SEE (2010).

THE WAR YOU DON’T SEE

d. Alan Lowery & John Pilger, 2010/UK

“John Pilger returns to the subject of war reporting and its critical role in the making of wars. This ‘drum beat’ was the theme of Pilger’s 1983 documentary FRONTLINE: THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH IN WARTIME, a history of war journalism from the Crimea in the 19th century to Margaret Thatcher’s Falklands War in 1982. THE WAR YOU DON’T SEE analyses propaganda as a weapon in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title refers to censorship by omission – ‘the most virulent form of censorship,’ said Pilger – and the collusion of journalists.”

BOOK NOW (23 FEB 20:00) at Sands Films Cinema Club

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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. //.