SCREEN GUIDE DAILY: Films in London today 18.12.19
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
DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID d. Carl Reiner, 1982 + Intro/Supporting Programme at The Cinema Museum (18 DEC 19:30):
- Kennington Noir presents: “Our choice of Christmas film is a unique one. In mid-1980, comedian Steve Martin was having lunch with director Carl Reiner and screenwriter George Gipe. They were discussing a screenplay Martin had written where he suggested that they use a clip from an old film. From this suggestion came the idea of using multiple clips from many old films to make up an entire new feature. The result, after a lot of clever production work, was DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID.”
NEW AT RADIANT CIRCUS
#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
THE DAY SHALL COME d. Chris Morris, 2019 + Q&A with the director at Curzon Soho (18 DEC 18:30):
- “The return of satirical mastermind Chris Morris, following his explosive, critically acclaimed Islamist satire FOUR LIONS. Moses is ready to lead a global uprising against the ‘accidental dominance of the white race’. The only trouble is that he only has three followers, no money and is struggling to put aside hallucinations about a talking horse.”
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR d. Norman Jewison, 1973 + Drag Singalong at The Chateau (18 DEC 19:00).
- TNB London & The Batty Mama present: “The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera about the life and death of Christ is brought to the big-screen after success on Shaftesbury Avenue and Broadway. The story of Christ’s (Ted Neely) last week on Earth is told by a group of travellers who arrive in modern-day Jerusalem on a tour bus. Events are seen from the perspective of Apostle Judas (Carl Anderson), who betrays Jesus to the Judaic religious leaders in return for thirty pieces of silver. Songs include ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Hosanna’, ‘Herod’s Song’ and the now-famous theme tune.”
STAR WARS TRIPLE BILL at Genesis Cinema (18 DEC 18:00):
- “Get your lightsabers at the ready and catch this Star Wars Triple Bill with THE FORCE AWAKENS, and THE LAST JEDI before the midnight premiere of RISE OF SKYWALKER.”
- Also available at: Catford Mews (18 DEC 18:00); and, Rich Mix (18 DEC 18:00).
More films in London today (A – Z):
- THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM d. John Chester, 2018 at DocHouse (18 DEC 16:30).
- THE CAVE d. Feras Fayyad, 2019 at Curzon Aldgate (18 DEC 18:15 – Other Curzons available!).
- HEIMAT IS A SPACE IN TIME d. Thomas Heise, 2019 at ICA (18 DEC 14:20).
- HUMAN NATURE d. Adam Bolt, 2019 at Regent Street Cinema (18 DEC 19:30).
- THE IRISHMAN d. Martin Scorsese, 2019 at The Prince Charles (18 DEC 11:35).
- MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL d. Stanley Nelson, 2019 at ICA (18 DEC 14:15).
- On Venus, Still d. Patrick Staff at ICA (18 DEC 18:45).
- SHOOTING THE MAFIA d. Kim Longinotto, 2019 at DocHouse (18 DEC 12:30).
- SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN d. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, 1952 at Phoenix Cinema (18 DEC 18:30).
- SORRY WE MISSED YOU d. Ken Loach, 2019 presented by Screen25 at Harris Academy South Norwood (18 DEC 19:45 – Use promo code “CIRCUS19” to book & save).
- WHITE CHRISTMAS d. Michael Curtiz, 1954 at Regent Street Cinema (18 DEC 12:00 & 15:30).
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MUSEUM SHOWS 1 // SEASONS
70mm PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):
- DIE HARD 70mm d. John McTiernan, 1988 (18 DEC 20:45).
BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: GETTING TOGETHER at BFI Southbank (DEC):
- THE LADYKILLERS d. Alexander Mackendrick, 1955 + Intro by Mark Duguid (18 DEC 18:10).
CHRISTMAS AT THE PCC at The Prince Charles (NOV to DEC):
- Grind shows: THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (01 to 24 DEC – various formats/check venue); IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 35mm d. Frank Capra, 1946 (01 to 24 DEC – some digital/check venue); and, ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (04 to 24 DEC – various formats/check venue).
- THE APARTMENT 35mm d. Billy Wilder, 1960 (18 DEC 18:15).
CHRISTMAS FILMS at Regent Street Cinema (14 to 24 DEC):
- WHITE CHRISTMAS d. Michael Curtiz, 1954 (18 DEC 12:00 & 15:30).
CLOSE-UP ON RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER at Close-Up (until 21 DEC):
- QUERELLE d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1982 (18 DEC 20:15).
CURATOR’S PICKS at Barbican (13 to 19 DEC):
- SAUVAGE d. Camille Vidal-Naquet, 2018 (18 DEC 18:20).
MAURICE PIALET AND THE NEW FRENCH REALISM at BFI Southbank (OCT to DEC):
- LE GARÇU 35mm d. Maurice Pialat, 1995 (18 DEC 20:40).
MUSICALS! THE GREATEST SHOW ON SCREEN at BFI Southbank (OCT to DEC):
- 42ND STREET d. Lloyd Bacon & Busby Berkeley, 1933 (18 DEC 20:30).
- Re-releases: THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG aka Les Parapluies de Cherbourg d. Jacques Demy, 1964 (06 to 30 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
ALVA d. Ico Costa, 2019 at ICA (18 DOC 16:35):
- “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 (18 DEC 20:30):
- “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 (18 DEC 12:40 & 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 (18 DEC 12:20 & 17:00):
- “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+.