Films in London this week: JAMES BALDWIN - THE PRICE OF THE TICKET at Peckhamplex (16 DEC).
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SCREEN GUIDE DAILY: Films in London today 16.12.19

RADIANT CIRCUS is your handcrafted guide to London’s DIY, indie & alternative movie nights, film events & gallery screenings. Our DAILY UPDATE helps you find great films in London today*.

Find films in London today by: SINGLE-O EXHIBITS (one-off attractions) // MUSEUM SHOWS (several exhibits under one roof – seasons & festivals) // GRIND SHOWS (a selection of regular runs).

FEATURED ATTRACTION

JAMES BALDWIN: THE PRICE OF THE TICKET d. Karen Thorsen, 1989 + Introat Peckhamplex (16 DEC 20:30):

  • The Batty Mama & Evidence To Exist Research Group present: “An emotional portrait, a social critique, and a passionate plea for human equality, JAMES BALDWIN: THE PRICE OF THE TICKET is now considered a classic. Without using narration, the film allows Baldwin to tell his own story: exploring what it means to be born black, impoverished, gay and gifted – in a world that has yet to understand that “all men are brothers.” In honour of the 25th anniversary of James Baldwin’s death, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.”

NEW AT RADIANT CIRCUS

Films in London: MONOS presented by Wimbledon Film Club at Curzon Wimbledon (11 FEB 2020).

#32BoroughsOfFilm: Following our report from their last screening of 2019 – NINOTCHKA (03 DEC) – we’re delighted to announce the new Spring/Summer 2020 programme at Wimbledon Film Club.

FILMS IN LONDON TODAY

SINGLE-O EXHIBITS

Films in London today: LA LEGGENDA DEL SANTO BEVITORE at Italian Cultural Institute (16 DEC).
Films in London today: LA LEGGENDA DEL SANTO BEVITORE at Italian Cultural Institute (16 DEC).

THE DIRTY WAR ON THE NHS d. John Pilger, 2019 + Q&A with the director at Curzon Soho (16 DEC 18:15):

  • “Renowned BAFTA and Emmy-winning filmmaker and journalist John Pilger joins us to present his new documentary: ‘a tribute to a unique institution,’ he says at the start of the film. It’s also about the threat to democracy and, above all, a warning. Pilger investigates the dismantling ‘by stealth’ of the National Health Service; ‘a last bastion of true public service’.”

LA LEGGENDA DEL SANTO BEVITORE d. Ermanno Olmi, 1988 + Salon with Nick Walker at Italian Cultural Institute (16 DEC 19:00 – FREE!):

  • “A stranger gives an alcoholic homeless two hundred Francs, provided he returns the sum to Saint Therese in the cathedral, when he can. Awarded with Leone d’Oro at the 45th Venice Film Festival and with four David di Donatello, LA LEGGENDA DEL SANTO BEVITORE is based on the homonymous novel by the Austrian author Joseph Roth.”

More films in London today (A – Z):

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MUSEUM SHOWS 1 // SEASONS

Films in London today: WEST INDIES: THE FUGITIVE SLAVES OF LIBERTY 35mm, part of MED HONDO: AFRICA FROM THE SEINE at BFI (16 DEC).
Films in London today: WEST INDIES: THE FUGITIVE SLAVES OF LIBERTY 35mm, part of MED HONDO: AFRICA FROM THE SEINE at BFI (16 DEC).

70mm PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: GETTING TOGETHER at BFI Southbank (DEC):

CHRISTMAS AT THE PCC at The Prince Charles (NOV to DEC):

CURATOR’S PICKS at Barbican (13 to 19 DEC):

MED HONDO: AFRICA FROM THE SEINE at BFI Southbank (DEC):

MUSICALS! THE GREATEST SHOW ON SCREEN at BFI Southbank (OCT to DEC):

SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE: THE OPPOSITIONAL FILMS OF CINEMA ACTION at Deptford Cinema (08 to 16 DEC):

MUSEUM SHOWS 2 // FESTIVALS

We don’t think there are any film festivals in London today… but we might have missed something! Let us know…

GRIND SHOWS

Films in London today: THE KINGMAKER at ArtHouse Crouch End (13 to 19 DEC).
Films in London today: THE KINGMAKER at ArtHouse Crouch End (13 to 19 DEC).

ALVA d. Ico Costa, 2019 at ICA (16 DOC – Not screening today! Come back tomorrow):

  • “After committing a crime, a man hides in the forest. Shot in the Portuguese highlands, in 16mm, the film follows Henrique, a solitary man running away from his life and from the world. In a progressively immersive style, you are transported into this space of solitude, in search of what really moves the protagonist.”

AQUARELA d. Victor Kossakovsky, 2018 at DocHouse (16 DEC 16:40):

  • “Set to the backdrop of an original soundtrack by the Finnish symphonic metal band Apocalyptica, AQUARELA’s roving lens takes you on a visceral global journey, allowing you to feel the raw power and beauty of water in startling visual detail.”

FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES d. Max Lewkowicz, 2019 at JW3 (16 DEC 13:15 & 20:30):

  • “When Fiddler on the Roof opened on Broadway in 1964, it explored themes of tradition, religion, and anti-Semitism against a modern backdrop of radical social change that addressed gender roles, sexuality, and race. Rare archival footage and interviews with musical luminaries explore the legacy of this long-running, award-winning musical.”

THE KINGMAKER d. Lauren Greenfield, 2019 at ArtHouse Crouch End (16 DEC 12:15 & 18:10):

  • “Documentary centring on the controversial political career of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines whose behind-the-scenes influence of her husband Ferdinand’s presidency rocketed her to the global political stage.”

More films in London this week (A – Z):

  • THE CAVE d. Feras Fayyad, 2018 at DocHouse (until 19 DEC). CITIZEN K d. Alex Gibney, 2019 at ArtHouse Crouch End (13 to 19 DEC). HONEY BOY d. Alma Har’el, 2019 at The Castle Cinema (until 24 DEC). THE IRISHMAN d. Martin Scorsese, 2019 at Ciné Lumière (14 DEC to 05 JAN). KNIVES OUT d. Rian Johnson, 2019 at The Lexi (until 18 DEC). LA BELLE ÉPOQUE d. Nicolas Bedos, 2019 at Ciné Lumière (until 03 JAN). THE NIGHTINGALE d. Jennifer Kent, 2018 at Watermans (13 to 19 DEC). PHOTOGRAPH d. Ritesh Batra, 2019 at Whirled Cinema (16 to 18 DEC). PINK WALL d. Tom Cullen, 2019 at Catford Mews (13 to 19 DEC). SO LONG, MY SON d. Wang Xiaoshuai, 2018 at ArtHouse Crouch End (until 19 DEC). THE STREET d. Zed Nelson, 2019 at The Lexi (15 to 18 DEC). THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG aka Les Parapluies de Cherbourg d. Jacques Demy, 1964 at Ciné Lumière (until 07 JAN). THE WOLF’S CALL d. Antonin Baudry, 2019 at Watermans (13 to 19 DEC).

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*THE SMALL PRINT: As accurate as we could make it. Apologies for any errors. Apologies if we have missed your event. 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+.