Films in London this week: FAUST at The Lord Palmerston (17 DEC).
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SCREEN GUIDE: Films in London this week [13 to 19 DEC 2019]

RADIANT CIRCUS is your handcrafted guide to London’s DIY, indie & alternative movie nights, film events & gallery screenings. Our latest SCREEN GUIDE helps you find great films in London this week*.

FRI 13 // SAT 14 // SUN 15 // MON 16 // TUE 17 // WED 18 // THU 19

Find films in London this week by:

SINGLE-O EXHIBITS (one-off attractions – by date) // MUSEUM SHOWS (several exhibits under one roof – by seasons & festivals) // GRIND SHOWS (a selection of new releases & regular runs).

FEATURED ATTRACTION

FAUST d. F. W. Murnau, 1926 + Intro at The Lord Palmerston (17 DEC 20:00):

  • Tufnell Park Film Club presents: “Drawing on older traditions of the Faust legend as well as on Goethe’s classic version, Murnau’s FAUST stars Emil Jannings as the demon Mephisto, who wagers with an Archangel that he can corrupt a mortal man’s soul. Mephisto sets his sights on the thoughtful old alchemist Faust (Gösta Ekman), who is desperately trying to save his village from a plague… FAUST saw Murnau return to the dark supernatural elements of his 1922 classic, NOSFERATU, and was his last German film before moving to Hollywood.”

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 THIS WEEK

SINGLE-O EXHIBITS

ONE-OFF MOVIE NIGHTS, FILM EVENTS & GALLERY SCREENINGS (by date/event)

FRI 13

Films in London this week: THE CAPTIVE at Ciné Lumière (13 DEC).
Films in London this week: THE CAPTIVE at Ciné Lumière (13 DEC).

AQUAELA d. Victor Kossavosky, 2018 + Intro by producer Aimara Reques at ICA (13 DEC 18:30):

  • “From the precarious frozen waters of Russia’s Lake Baikal to the throes of Hurricane Irma in Miami to Venezuela’s mighty Angel Falls, water is Aquarela’s main character, with director Victor Kossavosky capturing the sheer force and capricious will of Earth’s most precious element in startling cinematic clarity.”
  • Also at: DocHouse (13 DEC 18:30 + Q&A)

THE CAPTIVE aka La Captive d. Chantal Akerman, 2000 + Talk by Professor Edward Hughes (FREE!) at Ciné Lumière (13 DEC 20:15):

  • “Loosely inspired by Proust’s The Prisoner, Akerman’s hypnotic exploration of erotic obsession circles around the relationship between the seemingly pliant Ariane and the disturbingly jealous Simon. Marking the 100th anniversary of the publication of A l’Ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, awarded the Prix Goncourt the same year.”

INTO THE DEVIL’S DEN d. Carl Abrahamsson + Short: SATANIC MOJO MANIFESTO d. Jason Atomic + Intro at The Horse Hospital (13 DEC 19:00):

  • Jason Atomic presents: “A documentary by Carl Abrahamsson about Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey. Featuring never before seen footage and interviews with LaVey, Blanche Barton, Peter Gilmore, Peggy Nadramia, Bob Johnson, Kenneth Anger, Michael Moynihan, Mitch Horowitz, Ruth Waytz, Larry Wessel, Margie Bauer, Jack Stevenson, and Jim Morton.

More films in London today (A – Z):

  • EYES WIDE SHUT d. Stanley Kubrick, 1999 at ICA (13 DEC 12:50). HARRIET d. Kasi Lemmons, 2019 at Catford Mews (13 DEC 20:50). HEIMAT IS A SPACE IN TIME d. Thomas Heise, 2019 at ICA (13 DEC 15:20). HIS GIRL FRIDAY d. Howard Hawks, 1940 + Intro by James Brown at Birkbeck Cinema (13 DEC 18:00 – FREE!). THE NIGHTINGALE d. Jennifer Kent, 2018 at Regent Street Cinema (13 DEC 20:50). ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD d. Quentin Tarrantino, 2019 at Rich Mix (13 DEC 20:15). THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC d. Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928 + Wine Tasting + Live Music presented by Collective Cinema at St Margaret’s Church (13 DEC 19:30). RENT d. Chris Columbus, 2005 presented by Fringe! at Bernie Grant Arts Centre (13 DEC 19:00 HOH). SEVEN BEAUTIES d. Lina Wertmuller, 1975 + Intro presented by CREAM Screen at Regent Street Cinema (13 DEC 18:30). SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN d. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, 1952 at Phoenix Cinema (13 DEC 13:15). SORRY WE MISSED YOU d. Ken Loach, 2019 at Regent Street Cinema (13 DEC 15:30). SORRY WE MISSED YOU d. Ken Loach, 2019 presented by Screen25 at Harris Academy South Norwood (13 DEC 19:45 – Use promo code “CIRCUS19” to book & save).

Screen25 Autumn Season - Exclusive RADIANT CIRCUS discount code.

SAT 14

Films in London this week: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at Genesis Cinema (14 DEC).
Films in London this week: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at Genesis Cinema (14 DEC).

ATLANTICS aka Atlantique d. Mati Diop, 2019 + Prerecorded interview with the director + Panel at Ciné Lumière (14 DEC 17:30):

  • Birds’ Eye View #ReclaimTheFrame & The Bechdel Test Fest present: “A hypnotic, genre-shifting portrait of a girl’s awakening in today’s Senegal. Ada and Souleiman are in love. Souleiman, tired of not getting paid for his work on the gleaming towers of Dakar, sets out across the Atlantic with his friends, leaving Ada to face impending marriage to another man. After the screening, The Bechdel Test Fest leads an open discussion based on the format of their Who Is She Podcast which shines light on the legacy of exceptional women in film.”

THE MAYOR’S RACE d. Loraine Blumenthal, 2018 + Q&A with the director & Rob Mitchell at Bernie Grant Arts Centre (14 DEC 19:00):

  • “Marvin Rees grew up in Bristol’s ghettos with violence, racial tensions and poverty on a daily basis. In 2012 he runs for mayor in Bristol, UK. The journey into politics hits him with rejection, failure and an inner struggle that eventually leads to the biggest challenge of his life. Will he be able to go the distance and become the first Mayor of African descent in Europe? The Mayor’s Race is about the desire to overcome doubt and the boundaries between social background and power.”

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 35mm d. John Badham, 1977 + Intro by The Celluloid Sorceress + Bar Boogie at Genesis Cinema (14 DEC 21:00):

  • The Celluloid Sorceress presents: “The great John Badham’s ultimate disco flick SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! Join us for a 35mm presentation that will be preceded by a little boogie at the bar to get you in the mood for Mr. Travolta’s sweet dancefloor moves and general ’70s ‘tude. Screening from a rare, original 35mm print. “SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER makes good moviemaking look easy” Gene Siskel.”

World Wide Weird All Dayer 3 at The King & Queen (14 DEC 11:30 – FREE!/Donation to Motor Neuron Disease encouraged):

  • World Wide Weird! presents: “A full day celebrating and watching cult horror and weird films from around the world… featuring 5 films & live performances. Films include: WEREWOLF WOMAN (1976); FOOTPRINTS ON THE MOON (1975); DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE (1979); BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL (1974); and, The Secret Surprise Film’ (197-). Free event, we will be collecting donations for Motor Neuron Disease.”

More films in London today (A – Z):

SUN 15

Films in London this week: OF TIME AND THE SEA at Rio Cinema (15 DEC).
Films in London this week: OF TIME AND THE SEA at Rio Cinema (15 DEC).

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 16mm d. Steven Spielberg, 1982 + Intro at The Castle Cinema (15 DEC 13:45):

  • Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club presents: “This tearjerking tale of a young boy’s friendship with a stranded space alien may technically be a sci-fi movie, but it also represents a very personal account of director Steven Spielberg’s down-to-earth feelings of childhood isolation and anxiety following his parents’ divorce. A wonderful script by Melissa Mathison and a surging score by John Williams help this to pack a mighty emotional punch. (Mark Kermode)”

OF TIME AND THE SEA d. Peter Sant, 2019 + Q&A with the director at Rio Cinema (15 DEC 15:30):

  • “On an island an old man wracked with dementia dreams he was once a king. Together with his two daughters they exist in the wake of a bizarre malady of mysterious origin on a land devoid of animal life. Following a series of encounters with an obnoxious neighbour, a Chinese billionaire desperate to contract the disease and a sousaphone player in search of his band mates, the malady threatens to return. The social order, already precarious, crumbles as the virus returns.”

TOKYO GODFATHERS d. Satoshi Kon, 2003 + Talk by Silvia Caso at Redmond Community Centre (15 DEC 18:30):

  • Redmond Pictures presents: “Homeless trio – alcoholic Gin, runaway Miyuki and transgender Hana – have been brought together by their unfortunate circumstance. When they find a baby on the streets of Tokyo at Christmas, they decide to return it to its real mother – but completing their good deed isn’t as simple as they imagined. The screening will follow a talk on Homelessness and (un)traditional families by curator and researcher Silvia Caso.”

More films in London today (A – Z):

  • THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM d. John Chester, 2018 at Regent Street Cinema (15 DEC 14:00). BLUE STORY d. Andrew Onwubolu, 2019 at Genesis Cinema (15 DEC 20:50). BOOKSMART d. Olivia Wilde, 2019 presented by Queer Cinema Club at The Yard Theatre (15 DEC 16:00). ECHO d. Amikam Kovner & Assaf Snir, 2018 UKJFF rescheduled screening at Phoenix Cinema (15 DEC 18:00). FOR SAMA d. Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watt, 2019 at ICA (15 DEC 14:15). Growing Up Jewish: Slums Of Beverly Hills short film programme part of Jewish Comedy Festival at JW3 (15 DEC 15:30). HONEYLAND d. Tamara Kotevska & Ljubomir Stefanov, 2019 at ICA (15 DEC 20:10). IN FABRIC d. Peter Strickland, 2018 at Whirled Cinema (15 DEC 18:00). THE IRISHMAN d. Martin Scorsese, 2019 at Rich Mix (15 DEC 16:15). LITTLE WOMEN d. Great Gerwig, 2019 at Picturehouse East Dulwich (15 DEC 14:30). LOLA d. Jacques Demy, 1961 at Ciné Lumière (15 DEC 16:00). Nan Goldin Documentary Screenings presented by Deeper Into Movies at SET (15 DEC 15:30). ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD d. Quentin Tarrantino, 2019 at Rich Mix (15 DEC 20:00). SHOOTING THE MAFIA d. Kim Longinotto, 2019 at ICA (15 DEC 19:15). SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN d. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, 1952 at Phoenix Cinema (15 DEC 13:30). SINGING IN THE RAIN! d. Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly, 1952 at Ciné Lumière (15 DEC 20:10). TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT d. Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo, 2018 presented by Baltic View at Regent Street Cinema (15 DEC 16:00). VIDEODROME 35mm d. David Cronenberg, 1983 at ICA (15 DEC 12:30 – Member screening).

MON 16

Films in London this week: JAMES BALDWIN - THE PRICE OF THE TICKET at Peckhamplex (16 DEC).
Films in London this week: JAMES BALDWIN – THE PRICE OF THE TICKET at Peckhamplex (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’.”

JAMES BALDWIN: THE PRICE OF THE TICKET d. Karen Thorsen, 1989 + Intro at 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.”

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):

TUE 17

Films in London this week: DESIGN FOR LIVING at The Cinema Museum (17 DEC).
Films in London this week: DESIGN FOR LIVING at The Cinema Museum (17 DEC).

DESIGN FOR LIVING d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1933 + Intro/Discussion at The Cinema Museum (17 DEC 19:30):

  • Women & Cocaine presents: “Bring ALL your boyfriends and girlfriends along because what better way to spend your Christmas than joining Women & Cocaine as we screen you the ground breaking DESIGN FOR LIVING. A daring movie that satirises sexual mores by heaping irony upon irony.”

Double-Bill: SHADOWING THE THIRD MAN + THE THIRD MAN d. Frederick Baker, 2004 + d. Carol Reed, 1949 + Intro by Angela Allen & Anthony Wall at Regent Street Cinema (17 DEC 18:30 + 20:25):

  • SHADOWING THE THIRD MAN: “This Arena doc reveals the many parallels between the on and off-screen action. Narrated by John Hurt, the film follows members of the original crew – Guy Hamilton (assistant director) and Angela Allen (script) – as they take us to the original locations in Vienna, and let us relive the on-set dramas and improvisations that make THE THIRD MAN so authentic and so compelling.” THE THIRD MAN: “Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to a shadowy postwar Vienna only to find himself investigating the mysterious death of an old friend, black-market opportunist Harry Lime.”

FAUST d. F. W. Murnau, 1926 + Intro at The Lord Palmerston (17 DEC 20:00):

  • Tufnell Park Film Club presents: “Drawing on older traditions of the Faust legend as well as on Goethe’s classic version, Murnau’s FAUST stars Emil Jannings as the demon Mephisto, who wagers with an Archangel that he can corrupt a mortal man’s soul. Mephisto sets his sights on the thoughtful old alchemist Faust (Gösta Ekman), who is desperately trying to save his village from a plague… FAUST saw Murnau return to the dark supernatural elements of his 1922 classic, NOSFERATU, and was his last German film before moving to Hollywood.”

More films in London today (A – Z):

  • BAD SANTA d. Terry Zwigoff, 2003 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Peckham Levels (17 DEC 19:30 – FREE!). THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM d. John Chester, 2018 at DocHouse (17 DEC 14:40). FOR SAMA d. Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watt, 2019 at ICA (17 DEC 16:25). HARRIET d. Kasi Lemmons, 2019 at Catford Mews (17 DEC 20:50). HEIMAT IS A SPACE IN TIME d. Thomas Heise, 2019 at ICA (17 DEC 14:25). HONEYLAND d. Tamara Kotevska & Ljubomir Stefanov, 2019 at ICA (17 DEC 20:30). THE IRISHMAN d. Martin Scorsese, 2019 at Rich Mix (17 DEC 19:30). LAST CHRISTMAS d. Paul Feig, 2019 + Short: LIBERTÉ d. Dora Paphides at The David Lean (17 DEC 19:30). SHOOTING THE MAFIA d. Kim Longinotto, 2019 at ICA (17 DEC 14:30). SHOOTING THE MAFIA d. Kim Longinotto, 2019 at DocHouse (17 DEC 16:30). SINGING IN THE RAIN! d. Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly, 1952 at Ciné Lumière (17 DEC 18:20). THE STREET d. Zed Nelson, 2019 at DocHouse (17 DEC 18:30).

WED 18

Films in London this week: DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID at The Cinema Museum (18 DEC).
Films in London this week: DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID at The Cinema Museum (18 DEC).

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.”

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.”

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); Rich Mix (18 DEC 18:00).

More films in London today (A – Z):

THU 19

Films in London this week: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS at The Cinema Museum (19 DEC).
Films in London this week: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS at The Cinema Museum (19 DEC).

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS 35mm d. Tim Burton, 1990 + Talk by Gareth Jones + Discussion at The Cinema Museum (19 DEC 19:00):

  • Film School presents: “In a castle high on top of a hill lives an inventor’s greatest creation – Edward (Johnny Depp), a near-complete person. The inventor (Vincent Price) died before he could finish Edward’s hands; instead, Edward is left with metal scissors for hands. Since then, he has lived alone, until a kind lady called Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers him and welcomes him into her home. Screening starts with a talk from Film Studies teacher Gareth Jones, outlining a particular approach to film analysis and ends with a group discussion inspired by that approach.”

UPSTAIRS PLANET: A FILM ABOUT CLEANERS FROM VENUS d. Graham Bendel + Live Set by Stuart Moxham & DJ Steve Proctor at The Horse Hospital (19 DEC 19:00):

  • “Funny, moving and entertaining, UPSTAIRS PLANET is a story about a relatively unknown cult 80s musician who has been a tremendous influence on many well-known acts (MGMT, XTC, Ariel Pink, John Cooper Clarke, Mac deMarco, etc). We’re talking cassette culture, DIY punk attitudes and intelligent, poetic lyricism that should have found a much wider audience.

More films in London today (A – Z):

  • ATLANTICS aka Atlantique d. Mati Diop at ICA (19 DEC 20:45). EYES WIDE SHUT d. Stanley Kubrick, 1999 at ICA (19 DEC 13:45). LAST CHRISTMAS d. Paul Feig, 2019 + Short: LIBERTÉ d. Dora Paphides at The David Lean (19 DEC 14:30 HOH). MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL d. Stanley Nelson, 2019 at ICA (19 DEC 16:10). MONOS d. Alejandro Landes, 2019 + Short: LIBERTÉ d. Dora Paphides at The David Lean (19 DEC 19:30). THE STREET d. Zed Nelson, 2019 at DocHouse (19 DEC 12:40).

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MUSEUM SHOWS PART 1

SEASONS (by event/venue)

Films in London this week: BLINDMAN, part of MIDNIGHT EXCESS at Rio Cinema (14 DEC).
Films in London this week: BLINDMAN, part of MIDNIGHT EXCESS at Rio Cinema (14 DEC).

007 ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):

“The anniversaries of Bond, James Bond.” Includes:

70mm PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):

“Bringing regular 70mm presentations back to the West End with”:

  • DIE HARD 70mm d. John McTiernan, 1988 (13 DEC 18:10 / 16 DEC 20:30 / 18 DEC 20:45).

A WORM’S TAIL VIEW IS OFTEN THE TRUE ONE: FILMS BY PERE PORTABELLA at ICA, Whitechapel Gallery, Close-Up, Cafe Oto & Brixton Prison (26 NOV 2019 to 15 FEB 2020):

“The most ambitious, creative and complete retrospective of works by ‘the most important living director you’ve never heard of’—Pere Portabella—will tour London’s most engaged cultural institutions from November 2019 until February 2020.” Includes:

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

“Since Christmas is seen by many as an opportunity for getting together, it’s timely to look at gatherings of various sorts.” Includes:

BLOOD ON EARTH: FILMS FROM THE AFRICAN & CARIBBEAN DIASPORA at Deptford Cinema (until 16 MAY 2020):

“A series of films embracing work which explores the human condition through stories from the African and Caribbean diaspora.” Includes:

  • MOONLIGHT d. Barry Jenkins, 2016 (14 DEC 19:30).

CHRISTMAS AT GENESIS at Genesis Cinema (08 to 17 DEC):

  • EYES WIDE SHUT 20th Anniversary Restoration d. Stanley Kubrick, 1999 (13 DEC 20:30); THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL d. Brian Henson, 1992 (15 DEC 12:45); HOME ALONE d. Chris Columbus, 1990 (15 DEC 14:55); and, DIE HARD d. John McTiernan, 1988 presented by Truman’s (17 DEC 21:00 + Free pint of something Truman’s).

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

CHRISTMAS FILMS at Regent Street Cinema (14 to 24 DEC):

CHRISTMAS POP-UP CINEMA presented by Crofton Park Pictures at Rivoli Ballroom (11 to 13 DEC):

  • ELF d. Jon Favreau, 2003 (13 DEC 17:00); and, LOVE ACTUALLY d. Richard Curtis, 2003 (13 DEC 20:00).

CLOSE-UP ON RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER at Close-Up (until 21 DEC):

“Marking the 30th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – and programmed in parallel to our upcoming Jürgen Böttcher retrospective with the Goethe-Institut – we’re pleased to present a selection of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s film and television works from across his vast, yet tragically short lived ouvre.” Includes:

  • QUERELLE d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1982 (18 DEC 20:15); WORLD ON A WIRE d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1973 (20 DEC 19:00); and, EFFI BRIEST d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1974 (21 DEC 17:00).

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

“Take the chance to see some of the year’s best films this December, chosen by our Cinema Team.” Includes:

DIRECTOR DEBUTS at Deptford Cinema (until 15 DEC):

“Showcasing the feature length debuts from directors both new and old.” Includes:

FRIENDS 25TH: THE ONE WITH THE ANNIVERSARY at The Prince Charles (08 DEC to 15 DEC):

“FRIENDS 25TH: THE ONE WITH THE ANNIVERSARY” will reunite fans with their longtime BFFs —Ross, Rachel, Joey, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe —to re-live some of their funniest moments. This event takes place over 3 nights, where 4 different episodes will screen per night!” Includes:

IN FOCUS: TOMITA KATSUYA at ICA (06 to 15 DEC):

“A programme of four feature films by one of Japan’s most thought-provoking contemporary filmmakers.” Includes:

  • OFF HIGHWAY 20 d. Tomita Katsuya, 2007 UK Premiere (14 DEC 17:00); and, SAUDADE d. Tomita Katsuya, 2011 (15 DEC 14:30).

MAURICE PIALET AND THE NEW FRENCH REALISM at BFI Southbank (OCT to DEC):

“A two-part exploration of an uncompromising director and the impact he’s made on recent French cinema and its actors.” Includes:

  • POLICE d. Maurice Pialat, 1985 (13 DEC 18:00); and, LE GARÇU 35mm d. Maurice Pialat, 1995 (18 DEC 20:40).
  • Sight & Sound Deep Focus: PONETTE 35mm d. Jacques Doillon, 1996 (15 DEC 19:40).

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

“Every film lover should experience the wide palette and unique vision of Med Hondo’s cinema.” Includes:

MIDNIGHT EXCESS at Rio Cinema (12 OCT to 14 DEC):

“MIDNIGHT EXCESS is a film programme from SUPAKINO that brings back the thrill of weird and wonderful late-night movies to London’s historic Rio Cinema.” Includes:

  • BLINDMAN d. Ferdinando Baldi, 1971 (14 DEC 23:00).

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

“Dust off your dancing shoes, practice your scales and join us for some heart-lifting movies, special events and joyful singalongs.” Includes:

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

“Films from a collective who helped define independent British film and produced some of the most powerful documents of political struggles during the 70s and 80s.” Presented by Wavelength. Includes:

TRIBUTE TO DELPHINE SEYRIG – ACTRESS, DIRECTOR AND ACTIVIST at Ciné Lumière (01 DEC 2019 to 04 FEB 2020):

“From being a film icon to supporting emerging women directors, Delphine Seyrig (1932-1990) increasingly got involved in the women’s rights and social struggles of her times, both in France and internationally, especially via the making of activist videos with her collective ‘Les Insoumuses’ (Defiant Muses) and through co-founding the Simone de Beauvoir Audiovisual Centre in Paris.” Includes:

  • PEAU D’ÂNE aka Donkey Skin d. Jacques Demy, 1970 (15 DEC 14:00 / 17 DEC 18:30).

> Plan ahead with our monthly roundup of London’s rep seasons & film festivals.

MUSEUM SHOWS PART 2

FILM FESTIVALS (by date/duration)

Films in London this week: THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET, part of WatchAUT at Picturehouse Central (15 DEC).
Films in London this week: THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET, part of WatchAUT at Picturehouse Central (15 DEC).

Film festivals in London this week include:

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GRIND SHOWS

REGULAR RUNS & MAINSTREAM MARVELS (by title)

Films in London this week: ALVA at ICA (13 to 19 DEC).
Films in London this week: ALVA at ICA (13 to 19 DEC).

ALVA d. Ico Costa, 2019 at ICA (13 to 19 DOC):

  • “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 (13 to 19 DEC):

  • “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 (13 to 19 DEC):

  • “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 (13 to 19 DEC):

  • “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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RADIANT CIRCUS – “Home of alternative screen culture in London” (Film London) – is supported entirely by readers’ monthly subscriptions. Subscribers get our listings emailed directly as well as other great rewards. With enough subscribers backing us, we will be able to: 1) establish RADIANT CIRCUS as a permanent resource; 2) fund a full site rebuild to make our listings more social and searchable; and, 3) stage free events for subscribers as our way of saying a huge thank you! Our target? One thousand passionate film fans sharing what they love so that many more can discover it. Subscribe at patreon.com/radiantcircus

“I love everything you’re doing with RADIANT CIRCUS, the output is brilliant. And just so great to see it grow. Kudos to you.” (A fan via email!).

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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+.