SCREEN GUIDE: Films in London this week [24 to 30 MAY 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 24 // SAT 25 // SUN 26 // MON 27 // TUE 28 // WED 29 // THU 30
FEATURED ATTRACTION
In a quieter week for many exhibitors, one stalwart of London’s alternative screen culture appears to have gone into overdrive. In a unique (and quite possibly indecisive…) step, our featured attraction of the week is therefore a person: Nick Walker of Rochester Kino who has no less than three fascinating salon events on offer. We’ve picked THE DEVILS (30 MAY, Genesis Cinema) as our highlight, but you can also get talking film with Nick after LA RELIGIEUSE at Ciné Lumière (26 MAY) and a free screening of PROPERTY IS NO LONGER THEFT at the Italian Cultural Institute (28 MAY).
Special mentions to the additional matinee screening by Alt/Kino of TERROR NULLIUS after the evening show sold out faster than anything (25 MAY, Close-Up), and to a “thought-provoking documentary milestone that deserves to be better seen”, INQUIRING NUNS (27 MAY, Curzon Soho). Our promiscuous friends at Fringe! have another fling, this time with XY CHELSEA which includes a Q&A with the director and the Bent Bars Project, supporting LGBTQ+ people in prison (28 MAY, Genesis Cinema). Finally, don’t forget our juicy Spring/Summer promo offer at Screen25 starts this week with RAFIKI (29 MAY): get booking, save yourself some money but most of all, continue to support community cinema at its finest. We’ll see you in the darkness…
NEW AT RADIANT CIRCUS
- RADIANT CIRCUS is partnering with Screen25 to celebrate their new Spring/Summer programme. Use promo code “CIRCUS19” when booking to save on full price tickets. The season opens with: RAFIKI (29 MAY).
- For the next edition of MIDNIGHT EXCESS (15 JUN 23:00, Rio Cinema), SUPAKINO and AMOS LEVIN celebrate American comedy trio THE LONELY ISLAND with HOT ROD (2007) and POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING (2016).
Find films in London this week by: SINGLE-O EXHIBITS (one-off attractions) // MUSEUM SHOWS (several exhibits under one roof – seasons & festivals) // GRIND SHOWS (a selection of regular runs).
FILMS IN LONDON THIS WEEK
SINGLE-O EXHIBITS
ONE-OFF MOVIE NIGHTS, FILM EVENTS & GALLERY SCREENINGS (by date/event)
FRI 24
The Liberated Film Club V with Athina Tsangari at Close-Up (24 MAY 20:15):
- “We’re thrilled to welcome Athina Tsangari as our special guest for the fifth instalment of The Liberated Film Club where invited guests introduce a film which neither they nor the audience know in advance of screening. As John Akomfrah, one of the previous guests put it: “the premise of these events is the premise of cinema itself. You will not know.”
TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG d. Dominga Sotomayor Castillo, 2018 + Q&A with the director at Curzon Bloomsbury (24 MAY 18:15):
- “Chile 1990, a country stretching its wings post-Pinochet, exhilarated by new-found freedom but still tentative in the face of an uncertain future. This political reality is paralleled by this story of an idealistic community living off-grid in a commune in the foothills of the Andes.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- BLADE RUNNER: DOUBLE FEATURE d. Ridley Scott/Denis Villeneuve 1982/2017 at The Prince Charles (24 MAY 18:10). DIAMANTINO d. Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt, 2018 at ICA (24 MAY 14:20). KASALA! d. Ema Edosio, 2018 at Bernie Grant Arts Centre (24 MAY 19:00). LAST STOP CONEY ISLAND: THE LIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF HAROLD FEINSTEIN d. Andy Dunn, 2018 at DocHouse (24 MAY 14:30). MADELINE’S MADELINE d. Josephine Decker, 2018 at ICA (24 MAY 14:25). POPSTAR: NEVER STOP, NEVER STOPPING SINGING ALONGING d. Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone, 2016 at The Prince Charles (24 MAY 20:45). THE RUNNING MAN d. Paul Michael Glaser, 1987 at Deptford Cinema (24 MAY 20:00). SORRY TO BOTHER YOU d. Boots Riley, 2018 + Short: NECKFACE d. Sian Harries & Jacqueline Wright presented by Screen25 at Harris Academy South Norwood (24 MAY 19:45). WILD ROSE d. Tom Harper, 2018 at Regent Street Cinema (24 MAY 18:30 & 20:35).
SAT 25
AT HOME WITH THE LUDSKIS 15TH EDITION SUBLIMATED SECRETS at Rio Cinema (25 MAY 23:35):
- “A melange of Artist’s films, performance, music, installation, curation, and experimentation with new work from young and emerging artists as well as older and established. The Ludski!s seek to atomise and re-combine the arts that are the building blocks of the film makers practice. That means we must include all the arts.”
SATAN’S SLAVES aka Pengabdi Setan d. Joko Anwar, 2017 at Deptford Cinema (25 MAY 19:00):
- “A huge hit in Indonesia and throughout South East Asia, Joko Anwar’s remake of the cult horror ‘Pengabdi Setan’ (1982) delivers in both atmospheric chills and full-on horror as a family discovers that their bedridden matriarch, a once successful singer and main breadwinner is connected to a satanic cult. Part of Films Of The Archipelago.”
TERROR NULLIUS d. Soda_Jerk, 2018 + Q&A with the director at Close-Up (25 MAY 15:00):
- ALT/KINO presents: “The London premiere of Soda_Jerk’s sample-based political revenge fable, TERROR NULLIUS, preceded by Lewis Klahr’s PONY GLASS (1997) and Eileen Maxson’s CINDERELLA+++ (2002) – short films that explore notions of sampling and re-mixing traditional cultural narratives in different ways. Soda_Jerk will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 at ArtHouse Crouch End (25 MAY 19:45). ARMS WIDE OPEN d. Sirus Grahan, 2019 + PARTY European premiere at House Of Vans (25 MAY 20:30 – FREE!). ‘Autotheory’ in Canadian and Indigenous Artists’ Video short film programme at The Horse Hospital (25 MAY 19:00). DIAMANTINO d. Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt, 2018 at ICA (25 MAY 13:45). Double Bill: LA VERTIENTE d. Jorge Ruiz, 1958 + ESCRIBEME POSTALES A COPACABANA d. Thomas Kronthaler, 2009 presented by Friends of Bolivia at Deptford Cinema (25 MAY 13:30). JASON’S LYRIC d. Doug McHenry, 1994 + AFTERPARTY presented by Soulgigs at Picturehouse Ritzy (25 MAY 19:00). THE KARATE KID d. John G. Avildsen, 1984 at The Prince Charles (25 MAY 15:10). WILD ROSE d. Tom Harper, 2018 at Regent Street Cinema (25 MAY 14:15, 16:15, 18:20 & 20:30).
SUN 26
BOOKSMART d. Olivia Wilde, 2019 + PANEL + PARTY at Picturehouse Hackney (26 MAY 20:15):
- Bird’s Eye View #ReclaimTheFrame presents: “The directorial debut of Olivia Wilde and starring Beanie Feldstein(LADY BIRD) & Kaitlyn Dever (DETROIT) this hilarious and heartfelt comedy follows two academic superstars and best friends who, on the eve of their high school graduation, suddenly realise that they should have worked less and played more.”
CASABLANCA 16mm d. Michael Curtiz, 1942 + INTRO at The Castle Cinema (26 MAY 14:00):
- Ciné-Real presents: “The story of Rick Blaine, a cynical world-weary ex-patriate who runs a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco during the early stages of WWII. Despite the pressure he constantly receives from the local authorities, Rick’s cafe has become a kind of haven for refugees seeking to obtain illicit letters that will help them escape to America.”
LA RELIGIEUSE aka The Nun d. Jacques Rivette, 1965 + SALON with Nick Walker, Rochester Kino at Ciné Lumière (26 MAY 14:00):
- “Initially banned in France on grounds of anti-clericalism, Jacques Rivette’s take on Diderot’s 1760 novel recounts the twists and turns of Suzanne (Anna Karina) stuck in the throes of sadistic persecution as she is forced to enter a convent against her own will. One of the most breathtaking and emotional works of French cinema, Jacques Rivette’s exquisite drama appears now in a glorious new 4K digital restoration.”
TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG d. Dominga Sotomayor Castillo, 2018 + Q&A with the director at The Lexi Cinema (26 MAY 20:15):
- “Chile 1990, a country stretching its wings post-Pinochet, exhilarated by new-found freedom but still tentative in the face of an uncertain future. This political reality is paralleled by this story of an idealistic community living off-grid in a commune in the foothills of the Andes.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- 35 SHOTS OF RUM d. Claire Denis, 2008 at ICA (26 MAY 12:30). DR STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I STOPPED WORRYING & LEARNED TO LOVE THE BOMB d. Stanley Kubrick, 1964 at Phoenix Cinema (26 MAY 16:00). EACH AND EVERY MOMENT d. Nicolas Philibert, 2018 at DocHouse (26 NOV 16:00). THE LAST WALTZ d. Martin Scorsese, 1978 at Picturehouse Central (26 MAY 15:00 – Other Picturehouses available!). LOVE BEFORE BREAKFAST d. Walter Lang, 1936 presented by Kennington Talkies at The Cinema Museum (26 MAY 14:30). MADELINE’S MADELINE d. Josephine Decker, 2018 at ICA (26 MAY 14:25). MARTY d. Delbert Mann, 1955 at Whirled Cinema (26 MAY 18:00). THE RAILWAY CHILDREN d. Lionel Jeffries, 1970 at BFI (26 MAY 12:30). STRAIGHT 8 2016, 2017 AND 2018 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL SELECTIONS at Regent Street Cinema (26 MAY 14:00). THE WHITE CROW d. Ralph Fiennes, 2019 at Regent Street Cinema (26 MAY 20:00).
MON 27
Hitchhiking Terror Double Bill at Helgi’s (27 MAY 19:00):
- World Wide Weird! presents: “A double bill of 70s roadside terror. Includes: HITCH HIKE TO HELL d. Irv Berwick, 1977 + HITCH-HIKE d. Pasquale Festa Campanile, 1977.
INQUIRING NUNS d. Gordon Quinn & Jerry Temaner, 1978 + Skype Q&A with Gordon Quinn + PANEL at Curzon Soho (27 MAY 18:30):
- “1967: two nuns stand on Chicago street corners asking passersby, ‘Are you happy?’ Powerful and disarming in its simplicity, their responses range from bemused, to amusing, to spiritual, to searching. Newly restored and featuring music by Philip Glass, INQUIRING NUNS is a brilliant time capsule of what was on America’s mind in 1967 (especially the Vietnam war) but also a thought-provoking documentary milestone that deserves to be better seen.”
PICCADILLY d. E.A. Dupont, 1929 + LIVE ORGAN SOUNDTRACK by Donald MacKenzie at Regent Street Cinema (27 MAY 19:45):
- “One of the pinnacles of British silent cinema, PICCADILLY is a sumptuous showbiz melodrama seething with sexual and racial tension. The Chinese-American screen goddess Anna May Wong stars as Shosho, a scullery maid in a fashionable London nightclub whose sensuous tabletop dance catches the eye of suave club owner Valentine Wilmot.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- ASH IS PUREST WHITE d. Jia Zhang-Ke, 2018 at Ciné Lumière (27 MAY 14:00). BEATS d. Brian Welsh, 2019 at Moving Pictures Cinema (27 MAY 20:30). LAST STOP CONEY ISLAND: THE LIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF HAROLD FEINSTEIN d. Andy Dunn, 2018 at DocHouse (27 MAY 20:40). MOONLIGHT d. Barry Jenkins, 2016 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Peckham Levels (27 MAY 19:00 – FREE!).
TUE 28
XY CHELSEA d. Tim Travers Hawkins, 2019 + Q&A with the director & Bent Bars Project at Genesis Cinema (28 MAY 21:00):
- Fringe! Flings presents: “The historic story of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, whose 35-year sentence in an all-male maximum security prison was commuted by President Obama in 2017. XY CHELSEA is the journey of her fight for survival and dignity, and her transition from prisoner to a free woman. Bent Bars Project will illuminate Chelsea’s current situation and share vital ways to support Chelsea and others.”
PROPERTY IS NO LONGER THEFT d. Elio Petri, 1973 + INTRO/SALON with Nick Walker, Rochester Kino at the Italian Cultural Institute (28 MAY 19:00 – FREE!):
- “A bank cashier, who’s allergic to banknotes, quits his job after an armed robbery. He decides to start a new life, as a thief. He starts by targeting a popular former client, a butcher. But being a neurotic Marxist has its drawbacks. Property is No Longer a Theft presents a caustic, blackly comic look at a corrupt society.”
WOMEN IN REVOLT – BEYOND THE VISIBLE at Regent Street Cinema (28 MAY 19:30):
- Indie Society (aka London Film Academy, Shorts On Tap & UK Actors Tweetup) present: An immersive breath work session with Richie Bostock followed by a programme of short films & Q&A with the attending filmmakers.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- ALL THE WILD HORSES d. Ivo Marloh, 2017 presented by Wimbledon Film Club at Curzon Wimbledon (28 MAY 20:30). EACH AND EVERY MOMENT d. Nicolas Philibert, 2018 at DocHouse (28 NOV 18:30). GLORY d. Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanovon, 2016 presented by Richmond Film at The Exchange (28 MAY 20:00). JELLYFISH d. James Gardner, 2018 + INTRO by Brent Carers at The Lexi Cinema (28 MAY 18:30). THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER d. Sara Colangelo, 2018 at The David Lean (28 MAY 19:30). PAN’S LABYRINTH d. Guillermo del Toro, 2006 at TT Liquor (28 MAY 19:00). PILLOW TALK d. Michael Gordon, 1959 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (28 MAY 20:00). STILL WALKING d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008 at Picturehouse Central (28 MAY 18:30 – Other Picturehouses available!). THE WORLD OF US d. Yoon Ga-eun, 2016 presented by KCCUK at Deptford Cinema (28 MAY 19:30 – FREE!/Currently looking SOLD OUT).
WED 29
CITY GIRL d. F.W. Murnau, 1927 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT by Meg Morley at The Cinema Museum (29 MAY 19:30):
- Kennington Bioscope presents: “Three years after his masterpiece, SUNRISE (1927) director F.W. Murnau made his last film for the Fox Corporation, CITY GIRL. The film is unjustly neglected and rarely shown. Tenderly romantic and tough-minded in equal measure, CITY GIRL is one of cinema’s great pastorals, featuring some of the most delicate performances Murnau ever filmed and influencing directors such as Terrence Malick and Jean Vigo.”
London Double Bill d. various at Regent Street Cinema (29 MAY 19:30):
- Heavenly Films and BBC Arena present: Two outstanding documentaries about London. This program is a special Save The Social event and all proceeds will go towards The Social, Little Portland Street which has recently been under threat of closure due to rent hikes and developers. Followed by a Q&A with the directors and members of Saint Etienne.
RAFIKI d. Wanuri Kahiu, 2018 + DISCUSSION at Harris Academy South Norwood (29 MAY 19:45):
- Screen25 presents: “Banned at home, and embraced by the world, join us on an odyssey this May to Kenya with a screening of the remarkably touching and vibrantly colourful RAFIKI. We’re pleased to be welcoming Clara Bradbury-Rance (King’s College London) and Bisi Alimi (Bisi Alimi Foundation) who will be leading a discussion on the film.”
- Use exclusive promo code “CIRCUS19” when booking for this or any film in the Spring/Summer season at Screen25.
Why Life is Worth Living: Friedl Kubelka vom Gröller + INTRO by the artist at BFI Southbank (29 MAY 20:20):
- Austrian Cultural Forum presents: “Making a very rare UK appearance, Friedl Kubelka vom Gröller will personally present a selection of her carefully observed documentary portrait films made between 1969 and 2018. She is joined by Dietmar Schwärzler, Austrian artist film distributor, sixpackfilm representative and editor of the book Friedl Kubelka vom Gröller – One Is Not Enough.”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- ASH IS PUREST WHITE d. Jia Zhang-Ke, 2018 at Ciné Lumière (29 MAY 15:45). BEATS d. Brian Welsh, 2019 at Moving Pictures Cinema (29 MAY 20:30). BRIGADOON 35mm d. Vincente Minnelli, 1954 at Regent Street Cinema (29 MAY 12:00 & 15:30). GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS d. Michael Dougherty, 2019 at Peckhamplex (29 MAY 20:35). JIMI HENDRIX: ELECTRIC CHURCH d. John McDermott, 2015 at Picturehouse Central (29 MAY 19:00 – Other Picturehouses available!). LAST STOP CONEY ISLAND: THE LIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF HAROLD FEINSTEIN d. Andy Dunn, 2018 at DocHouse (29 MAY 16:30). MADELINE’S MADELINE d. Josephine Decker, 2018 at ICA (29 MAY 14:30).
THU 30
THE AMAZING NINA SIMONE d. Jeff L. Lieberman, 2015 + INTRO by Charmaine Simpson at The Lexi Cinema (30 MAY 18:30):
- Black History Studies presents: “Takes audiences on Nina’s own journey, from the segregated South, through to the distinct worlds of classical music, jazz joints and international concert halls. Within the context of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, the film delves into Nina’s artistry and intentions, answering questions behind her most beloved songs, bold style, controversial statements, and finally, the reason why she left America.”
- Joint ticket with a later screening of AMAZING GRACE (phone booking only: 020 3011 5523 during office hours).
THE DEVILS d. Ken Russell, 1971 + INTRO/SALON by Nick Walker, Rochester Kino at Genesis Cinema (30 MAY 18:30):
- Cult Classic Collective presents: “In 17th-century France, Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) is a priest whose unorthodox views on sex and religion influence a passionate following of nuns, including the sexually obsessed Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave). When the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) realizes he must eliminate Grandier to gain control of France, Richelieu portrays Grandier as a satanist and spearheads a public outcry to destroy the once-loved priest’s reputation.”
IN SAFE HANDS d. Jeanne Herry, 2018 + Q&A with the director & actor Elodie Bouchez at Ciné Lumière (30 MAY 18:20):
- “Abandoned at birth, baby Theo embarks on a journey through the Child Welfare Services, which will lead him temporarily to the care of Jean until a suitable home is found for him. Alice, 41, is unable to bear children and has been struggling to adopt a child for ten years. IN SAFE HANDS recounts how Theo and Alice’s paths come across. Nominated for 7 César Awards in 2019.”
STEEL COUNTRY d. Simon Fellows, 2018 + Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (30 MAY 21:00):
- Big Picture Film Club presents: “When a young boy turns up dead in a sleepy Western Pennsylvania town, a local outsider takes it upon himself to play detective, embarking on an obsessive investigation in order to the prove that the boy had been murdered, leading to unthinkable and harrowing consequences.”
TORSE d. Charles Atlas, 1977 + Bill Dietz & Amy Cimini in Conversation at ICA (30 MAY 18:30):
- “As part of a series of programmes devoted to the work of composer Maryanne Amacher (30 to 31 MAY), her former collaborator Bill Dietz is in conversation with musicologist Amy Cimini, author of a forthcoming monograph on Amacher. The conversation will be followed by a screening of Charles Atlas’ two-channel work documenting Merce Cunningham’s eponymous choreography through multiple cameras, performed to Amacher’s composition Remainder (1976).”
More films in London today (A – Z):
- THE BEACHES OF AGNÈS d. Agnès Varda, 2008 presented by Sydenham Film Club at The Sydenham Centre (30 May 19:30). BURNING d. Chang-dong Lee, 2018 presented by Das Kino at The Old Baths (30 MAY 20:00). EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE d. Joe Berlinger, 2019 at Regent Street Cinema (30 MAY 18:30 & 20:45). GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS d. Michael Dougherty, 2019 at Peckhamplex (30 MAY 20:35). GRAVITY 3D d. Alfonso Cuaron, 2013 presented by Empire Magazine at at Picturehouse Ritzy (30 MAY 20:00). THE ISLE d. Matthew Butler Hart, 2018 & Q&A with cast & crew at ArtHouse Crouch End (30 MAY 20:30). LATE SPRING d. Yasujiro Ozu, 1949 presented by Redmond Pictures at Redmond Community Centre (30 MAY 19:30 – FREE/Booking essential!). LOVE, CECIL d. Lisa Immordino Vreeland, 2017 presented by Highgate Film Society at Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution (30 MAY 20:00). THE ROOM d. Tommy Wiseau, 2003 at The Prince Charles (30 MAY 21:00). STAGE FRIGHT aka Deliria, aka Aquarius, aka Bloody Bird d. Michele Soavi, 1987 at BFI (30 MAY 20:40). STRANDED d. Frank Borzage, 1935 presented by Kennington Talkies at The Cinema Museum (30 MAY 19:30). WAKE IN FRIGHT d. Ted Kotcheff, 1971 at BFI (30 MAY 18:15). WILD ROSE d. Tom Harper, 2018 at The David Lean (30 MAY 14:30 HOH & 19:30).
MUSEUM SHOWS PART 1
SEASONS (by event/venue)
70mm PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):
- Bringing regular 70mm presentations back to the West End with: DUNE 70mm d. David Lynch, 1984 (26 MAY 14:40 / 28 MAY 20:45).
ALL NIGHT / DAY / MINI MOVIE MARATHONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing):
- “Butt-numbing marathons” (their words…ED.) of cult, horror, themed & film franchises including: THE ULTIMATE HARRY POTTER MARATHON 8 films, 1 ticket (26 MAY 20:30); and, SLY STALLONE ALL-NIGHTER 7 films, 1 ticket (26 MAY 21:15).
BEBOP NEW YORK: BIRTH OF AMERICAN INDIE CINEMA at Barbican (23 MAY to 25 JUN):
- “Late-50s New York. In Greenwich Village bars and Times Square burger joints painters, writers, critics, musicians were making a new world. Filmmakers were right there too.” Includes: Stan Brakhage: An Adventure in Perception 16mm (28 MAY 19:00).
BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS: WEIMAR CINEMA 1919-1933 at BFI Southbank (MAY to JUN):
- “Groundbreaking, imaginative, innovative and astonishingly modern: welcome to the dreamscapes and nightmares of this creative era.” Includes: Sight & Sound Discussion: The Birth of Criticism (28 MAY 18:15).
- Imagination, Innovation, Spectacle: VARIETY d. EA Dupont, 1925 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT (24 MAY 18:30); DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLER d. Fritz Lang, 1922 (25 MAY 13:00); THE CHRONICLES OF THE GREY HOUSE d. Arthur von Gerlach, 1925 (26 MAY 18:00 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT); and, MADAME DUBARRY d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1919 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT (28 MAY 18:10).
- Weimar Gothic: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI d. Robert Wiene, 1920 (25 MAY 18:30 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT); WAXWORKS 35mm d. Paul Leni, 1924 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT (26 MAY 15:15 / 30 MAY 21:00); and, THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE d. Henrik Galeen, 1926 + LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT (30 MAY 18:10).
- Last Laughs: THE LAST LAUGH d. FW Murnau, 1924 (24 MAY 20:45); A BLONDE DREAM 16mm d. Paul Martin, 1932 (27 MAY 14:30); and, THE OYSTER PRINCESS + I DON’T WANT TO BE A MAN d. Ernst Lubitsch, 1919/1918 (28 MAY 20:40).
BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: THE MEANINGS OF LIFE at BFI Southbank (MAY):
- Includes: SECONDS d. John Frankenheimer, 1966 (24 MAY 20:50 / 25 MAY 18:00); WALKABOUT d. Nicolas Roeg, 1971 (26 MAY 20:10 / 30 MAY 18:20); THE GRAPES OF WRATH d. John Ford, 1940 (27 MAY 14:00); LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD d. Alain Resnais, 1961 (28 MAY 20:50 – Currently looking SOLD OUT!); and, BITTER VICTORY d. Nicholas Ray, 1957 + INTRO by Geoff Andrew (29 MAY 18:10).
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF THE BATMAN! at The Prince Charles (06 to 27 MAY):
- “In celebration of 80 Years of the Caped Crusader, we’ll be bringing back some of his best big screen adventures to our building!” Includes: BATMAN d. Tim Burton, 1989 (until 29 MAY); BATMAN RETURNS d. Tim Burton, 1992 (27 MAY 15:25); BATMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE ANTHOLOGY (27 MAY 12:35 – BACK ON SALE!); BATMAN FOREVER d. Joel Schumacher, 1995 (27 MAY 18:10); and, BATMAN & ROBIN d. Joel Schumacher, 1997 (27 MAY 20:45).
CELEBRATING PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN at The Prince Charles (06 JAN to 15 JUL):
- Includes: DOUBT 35mm d. John Patrick Shanley, 2008 (29 MAY 18:20).
CLOSE-UP ON SCOTT WALKER at Close-Up (24 APR to 31 MAY):
- “In memory of the late great Scott Walker, Close-Up is honoured to present three films featuring of his original scores alongside a selection of cinematic masterpieces originally selected by Scott for his edition of Meltdown Festival in 2000.” Includes: POLA X 35mm d. Leos Carax, 1999 (25 MAY 20:15); THE LEOPARD d. Luchino Visconti, 1963 (26 MAY 18:30); CHINESE ROULETTE d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1976 (27 MAY 20:15); DRIFTING CLOUDS d. Aki Kaurismäki, 1996 (28 MAY 20:15) and, A MAN ESCAPED d. Robert Bresson, 1956 (30 MAY 20:15).
THE FILMS OF JEAN-MARIE STRAUB AND DANIÈLE HUILLET Goethe-Institut & partners’ epic season continues at Close-Up & Goethe-Institut (MAR to JUN):
- “A major UK retrospective of the prolific output of Straub and Huillet, including over forty-seven films and shorts directed between 1962 and 2018.” Includes: FILMS / DOCUMENTS: HUILLET-STRAUB AT WORK (25 MAY 10:00, Goethe-Institut – FREE!); and, NOT RECONCILED OR ONLY VIOLENCE HELPS WHERE VIOLENCE RULES d. Danièle Huillet & Jean-Marie Straub, 1965 at Close-Up (29 MAY 20:15).
HISTORICAL PERIOD DRAMAS at Austrian Cultural Forum (02 APR to 30 MAY – FREE!):
- “In 2019 our CineClub investigates the relationship of Austrian cinema and genre. We continue in the spring with a closer look at Austrian historical period dramas from the silent era to current festival highlights.” Includes: AMOUR FOU d. Jessica Hausner, 2014 (30 MAY 19:00 – FREE!).
JOHN CARPENTER RETROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (until 31 JUL):
- Includes: THEY LIVE d. John Carpenter, 1988 (25 MAY 21:00).
KOREAN FILM NIGHTS: HOME TRUTHS at Korean Cultural Centre (02 MAY to 20 JUN – FREE!):
- “Ventures into various on-screen Korean homes to explore how Korean domestic space shapes on-screen identities, and how its architectural structure can reflect the social mores of a time.” Includes: THE ROOM NEARBY d. Ko Tae-Jeong, 2009 (30 MAY 19:00 – FREE!/Currently looking SOLD OUT).
KUBRICK at BFI Southbank (APR to MAY):
- “A two-month exploration of the groundbreaking, boundary-pushing cinema of a directorial genius.” Includes: FULL METAL JACKET (24 MAY 18:20 35mm / 29 MAY 20:30); PATHS OF GLORY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1957 (25 MAY 15:50 35mm); THE SHINING (Extended Version) d. Stanley Kubrick, 1980 (25 MAY 20:15); 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70mm d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 (26 MAY 13:50 & 17:10 / 29 MAY 18:00 – Currently looking SOLD OUT!); A CLOCKWORK ORANGE d. Stanley Kubrick, 1971 (26 MAY 20:15 / 27 MAY 19:30 / 28 MAY 18:10); and, SPARTACUS d. Stanley Kubrick, 1960 (27 MAY 16:40).
- DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB d. Stanley Kubrick, 1963 enjoys a grind show run (18 to 30 MAY).
- “Inspired by Kubrick”:
- UNDER THE SKIN d. Jonathan Glazer, 2013 (24 MAY 20:20); A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 35mm d. Steven Spielberg, 2001 (25 MAY 17:50); EX MACHINA d. Alex Garland, 2014 (25 MAY 20:50); DUNKIRK 70mm d. Christopher Nolan, 2017 (26 MAY 20:15 / 29 MAY 21:00); and, ENTER THE VOID d. Gaspar Noé, 2009 (27 MAY 19:20).
LILIANA CAVANI: 1966-1970 at Deptford Cinema (13 to 27 MAY):
- “Best known for her 1974 film THE NIGHT PORTER, Italian writer-director Liliana Cavani is a filmmaker actively and provocatively rethinking what is assumed, accepted and agreed-upon.” Includes: THE YEAR OF THE CANNIBALS d. Liliana Cavani, 1970 (27 MAY 20:00).
MARTIN SCORSESE SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles (until 18 JUL):
- Includes: TAXI DRIVER 35mm d. Martin Scorsese, 1976 (26 MAY 17:45).
OF FLESH AND BLOOD: THE CINEMA OF HIROKAZU KORE-EDA at BFI Southbank (APR to MAY):
- “We celebrate a master of contemporary Japanese cinema with a two-month season of diverse, beautiful and human stories.” Includes: SHOPLIFTERS d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2018 (24 MAY 18:15 / 25 MAY 20:40 – Currently looking SOLD OUT! / 27 MAY 14:20 / 29 MAY 18:15 / 30 MAY 20:30); MABOROSI d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1995 (25 MAY 15:40 / 27 MAY 16:50); OUR LITTLE SISTER d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2015 (26 MAY 15:10); I WISH d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2011 (26 MAY 17:50); THE THIRD MURDER d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2017 (27 MAY 16:30 – Currently looking SOLD OUT!); and, AFTER THE STORM d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2016 (27 MAY 20:00).
SCI-FI SUNDAYS at Deptford Cinema (until 26 MAY):
- An afternoon movie and a little something extra on the last Sunday of the month. Includes: HOMO SAPIENS d. Nikolaus Geyrhalter, 2016 (26 MAY 15:30).
SHE, A CHINESE at The Whitechapel Gallery (09 to 26 MAY):
- “One of the most distinctive figures in world literature and cinema, the multi-award winning Chinese writer and film-maker Xiaolu Guo has, over the last 20 years, crafted a singular body of film work, covering short and artist’s film, documentary, essay and fiction features.” Includes: ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (25 MAY 13:30); and, THE EDGE IS THERE THE CENTRE IS (26 MAY 14:45).
TEMPLE CINEMA at Andaz London Liverpool Street (ongoing):
- “London’s most unique and opulent venue – the once-deserted Masonic temple hidden in the walls of Andaz Liverpool Street – will be taken over by the dark art of horror filmmaking.” Includes: MANDY d. Panos Cosmatos, 2018 (30 MAY 19:30).
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME at Ealing Green Church (03 MAY to 31 MAY):
- Classic Cinema Club Ealing presents: “As we make our move into another venue, here’s a run of films where location is key.” Includes: SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN d. Mu Fei, 1948 (24 MAY 19:30).
WE’RE GONNA PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999! at The Prince Charles (02 MAY to 26 NOV):
- “1999 was an EPIC year for movies – so we’re bringing a whole heap of it back to the big-screen!” Includes: ROSETTA 35mm d. Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne (28 MAY 18:25).
> COMING SOON: our next monthly roundup of London’s alternative screens.
MUSEUM SHOWS PART 2
FILM FESTIVALS (by date/duration)
Film festivals in London this week include:
- Everyman Music Film Festival (09 to 26 MAY).
- Herne Hill Free Film Festival (29 APR to 01 JUN).
- Sundance Festival London (30 MAY to 02 JUN).
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GRIND SHOWS
REGULAR RUNS & MAINSTREAM MARVELS (by title)
AFTER LIFE d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1998 at Rio Cinema (24 to 30 MAY):
- “Which memory would you choose? After the wonderful MABOROSI, Hirokazu Kore-eda, future director of SHOPLIFTERS, continued his exploration of the mystery of life with this remarkable and touching film that explores the profound human need to discover meaning in everyday existence and asks what makes us truly happy.”
TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG d. Dominga Sotomayor Castillo, 2018 at ICA (24 to 30 MAY):
- “Chile 1990, a country stretching its wings post-Pinochet, exhilarated by new-found freedom but still tentative in the face of an uncertain future. This political reality is paralleled by this story of an idealistic community living off-grid in a commune in the foothills of the Andes.”
XY CHELSEA d. Tim Travers Hawkins, 2019 at DocHouse (until 30 MAY):
- “The historic story of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, whose 35-year sentence in an all-male maximum security prison was commuted by President Obama in 2017. XY CHELSEA is the journey of her fight for survival and dignity, and her transition from prisoner to a free woman.”
More films in London this week (A – Z):
- AMA-SAN d. Cláudia Varejão, 2016 at ICA (until 30 MAY). AMAZING GRACE d. Alan Elliott & Sydney Pollack, 2018 at DocHouse (until 30 MAY). ASH IS PUREST WHITE d. Jia Zhangke, 2018 at ICA (until 30 MAY). BATMAN d. Tim Burton, 1989 (17 to 27 MAY). BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II 35mm d. Robert Zemeckis, 1989 at The Prince Charles (24 to 30 MAY). BEATS d. Brian Welsh, 2019 at Watermans (24 to 30 MAY). BIRDS OF PASSAGE d. Cristina Gallego, 2018 at Rio Cinema (until 30 MAY). DR STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I STOPPED WORRYING & LEARNED TO LOVE THE BOMB d. Stanley Kubrick, 1964 + Short Film at The Prince Charles (23 to 29 MAY). EIGHTH GRADE d. Bo Burnham, 2018 at The Prince Charles (until 30 MAY). GIRL d. Lukas Dhont, 2018 at Whirled Cinema (27 MAY to 02 JUN). HIGH LIFE d. Claire Denis, 2018 at The Castle Cinema (until 30 MAY). JOHN MCENROE: IN THE REALM OF PERFECTION d. Julien Faraut, 2018 at ArtHouse Crouch End (24 to 30 MAY). MADELINE’S MADELINE d. Josephine Decker, 2018 at Barbican (until 22 MAY). MEMOIR OF WAR d. Emmanuel Finkiel, 2018 at Ciné Lumière (24 MAY to 25 JUL). OUTDOORS d. Asaf Saban, 2017 presented by UKJF at JW3 (26 to 30 MAY). ROCKETMAN d. Dexter Fletcher, 2019 at ArtHouse Crouch End (24 to 30 MAY). VOX LUX d. Brady Corbet, 2018 at The Prince Charles (24 to 30 MAY). WOMEN AT WAR d. Benedikt Erlingsson, 2018 at The Castle Cinema (until 30 MAY).
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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+.