This is a film still from BREATHING FIRE ds. Lou Kennedy, Brandon Pender & Brandon De-Wilde, 1991 showing Ke Huy Quan.

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [19 to 25 MAY 2023]

Our RADIANT CIRCUS guide to what’s on in London this week across DIY, indie & alternative cinema, including one-off screen events, film seasons, film festivals & new releases.

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

This is a banner advert for BAR TRASH Cult Films & Brunch at Rule Zero.
BAR TRASH presents cult films & brunch at Rule Zero in Hackney Wick – BOOKING NOW!!

BREATHING FIRE dirs. Lou Kennedy, Brandon Pender & Brandon De-Wilde, 1991 presented by Crap Film Club at The Old Queens Head (22 MAY 19:00).

“BREATHING FIRE is a 1991 American DTV martial arts film which stars Ke Huy Quan (THE GOONIES) and Bolo Yeung (BLOODSPORT), and described as “an absolute cinematic trainwreck/masterpiece” (Cinafilm).”

“The plot revolves around Tony and his adopted Vietnamese brother Charlie, who we first meet in the act of winning the local taekwondo tournamount. Unfortunately, their father Michael can’t attend because he is a ruthless bank robber who has a major gold heist to take care of. Having stored the loot in a vault that requires two keys to enter, he and his gang encrust the keys into a plastic pizza (!) and then cut the pizza into several slices, meaning they need each other to access the gold.”

“Several misadventures later, Tony and Charlie are introduced to Annie, the daughter of the bank manager that Michael has killed to stop him informing. Not knowing about their father’s double life, the boys enlist their uncle David to train them up, take on the baddies, protect the girl, and kick an awful lot of ass!” (Crap Film Club).

FRIDAY 19 MAY

  • BARBARELLA d. Roger Vadim, 1968 + Music by DJ Martin Green & designer/artisan Whitaker Malem in conversation, presented by Rebel Reel Cine Club at The Garden Cinema (19 MAY 20:00).
  • IVAN’S CHILDHOOD d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962 at Ruskin House (19 May 19:30).
  • NEVER A MASTER PLAN d. Giorgio Guernier, 2023 + Q&A presented by Doc’n Roll at Rio Cinema (19 MAY 18:30).

TALKS etc.

SATURDAY 20 MAY

SUNDAY 21 MAY

  • UK Premiere: A DIFFERENT SCORE d. Anaïs Ngbanzo, 2023 + Q&A with the director & Devonté Hynes at Rio Cinema (21 MAY 18:15).
  • ANDREI TARKOVSKY: A CINEMA PRAYER d. Andrey A. Tarkovsky, 2019 at Bertha DocHouse (21 MAY 16:00).
  • BABYLON d. Damien Chazelle, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (21 MAY 17:00).
  • THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT aka Le tout nouveau testament d. Jaco Van Dormael, 2015 at Babel Art House (21 MAY 19:30).
  • CHICAGO BOYS d. Carola Fuentes & Rafael Valdeavellano, 2015 + Q&A with former Chilean political prisoner Roberto Navarrete and Chilean trade unionist Isabel Cortes from Chile 50 Years UK at ActOne Cinema (21 MAY 16:30).
  • Made at Riverside: Time & Riverside II – DOCTOR WHO: THE CRUSADE + Q&A Julian Glover & Special Guests at Riverside Studios (21 MAY 14:00).
  • Jewish Britain On Film archive programme at ActOne Cinema (21 MAY 15:30).
  • Jewish Britain On Film archive programme at Phoenix Cinema (21 MAY 16:00).
  • Jewish Britain On Film archive programme at Rio Cinema (21 MAY 14:00).
  • Mindful Pictures short film programme + workshops presented by Pynk Prism at The Garden Cinema (21 MAY 11:00).
  • MY NAME IS HAPPY d. Nick Read & Ayse Toprak, 2022 + Q&A with the directors & Mutlu Kaya, her sister Songul at Rio Cinema (21 MAY 15:45).
  • THE UNKNOWN d. Todd Browning, 1927 + Intro by BFI curator Bryony Dixon & Live piano accompaniment by Neil Brand at BFI Southbank (21 MAY 14:00).

EVENTS etc.

MONDAY 22 MAY

  • A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT d. Ana Lily Amirpour, 2014 presented by Deeper Into Movies at Farr’s Dalston (22 MAY 19:30).
  • TV Preview: BEST INTERESTS d. Michael Keillor, 2023 + Q&A with Sharon Horgan, Jack Thorne, Niamh Moriarty, Michael Keillor and Sophie Gardiner at BFI Southbank (22 MAY 18:15).
  • Both Sides Now 8: Queer Realities/Virtualities at The Horse Hospital (22 MAY 19:00).
  • BREATHING FIRE dirs. Lou Kennedy, Brandon Pender & Brandon De-Wilde, 1991 presented by Crap Film Club at The Old Queens Head (22 MAY 19:00).
  • THE FRENCH DISPATCH d. Wes Anderson, 2021 presented by Twickenham Cinema Club at Arthur’s Pizza (22 MAY 19:45).
  • Classic Monday Matinée: NIAGRA d. Henry Hathaway, 1953 at Regent Street Cinema (22 MAY 13:00).
  • Problematic Faves: PRETTY WOMAN d. Garry Marshall, 1990 presented by Transmissions at Dalston Superstore (22 MAY 19:00).
  • SAINT OMER d. Alice Diop, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (22 MAY 20:00 / 23 MAY 20:00 / 24 May 20:00 / 28 MAY 17:00).

TALKS etc.

TUESDAY 23 MAY

  • Projecting The Archive: 29, ACACIA AVENUE 35mm d. + Intro by BFI curator Josephine Botting at BFI Southbank (23 MAY 18:15).
  • HIJACKED: FLIGHT 73 d. Ben Anthony, 2023 + Q&A at Frontline Club (23 MAY 19:00).
  • Earthrise: THE NETTLE DRESS d. Dylan Howitt, 2023 + Q&A with the director at The Lexi Cinema (23 MAY 18:30).
  • ONE DAY AHEAD d. Matthew Jenke, 2021 presented in-venue & online by Sands Films Cinema Club at Sands Films Studios (23 MAY 20:00 – Donation requested).
  • Architecture On Film: REICHSAUTOBAHN d. Hartmut Bitomsky, 1984 + Intro by Tom Wilkinson at Barbican (23 MAY 18:45).
  • RELATOS SALVAJES aka Wild Tales d. Damián Szifron, 2014 presented by Spanish Marks at India Club Lounge-Bar (23 MAY 19:00).
  • SAINT OMER d. Alice Diop, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (23 MAY 20:00 / 24 May 20:00 / 28 MAY 17:00).
  • SING YOUR SONG d. Susanne Rostock, 2011 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (23 MAY 20:00).
  • SUZUME d. Makoto Shinkai, 2022 at The David Lean (23 MAY 19:30).

WEDNESDAY 24 MAY

  • THE DAMNED DON’T CRY 16mm d. Vincent Sherman, 1950 presented by Kennington Noir at The Cinema Museum (24 MAY 19:30).
  • SAINT OMER d. Alice Diop, 2022 at Whirled Cinema (24 May 20:00 / 28 MAY 17:00).
  • THEATRE OF BLOOD d. Douglas Hickox, 1973 + Q&A with Madeline Smith, Reece Shearsmith & Peter Fuller, presented by Evolution of Horror & Vincent Price Legacy UK at Genesis Cinema (24 MAY 20:00).

THURSDAY 25 MAY

  • FEELS short film programme at Picturehouse Hackney (25 MAY 19:00).
  • Earthrise: THE NETTLE DRESS d. Dylan Howitt, 2023 at The Lexi Cinema (25 MAY 18:30).
  • ONE FINE MORNING d. Mia Hansen-Løve, 2022 at The David Lean (25 MAY 14:30 HOH & 19:30).
  • SAFE PLACE d. Juraj Lerotić, 2022 + Recorded Intro by the director, presented by New East Cinema at Barbican (25 MAY 18:10).
  • WINGED MIGRATION aka Le peuple migrateur d. Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud & Michel Debats, 2001 presented by Sydenham Film Club at The Sydenham Centre (25 MAY 19:30).
TOKEN HOMO presents a sensational fourth season of BAR TRASH at Genesis Cinema & Rule Zero – BOOKING NOW!!

16MM SCREENINGS at The Castle Cinema

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): INTERSTELLAR 70mm d. Christopher Nolan, 2014 (19 MAY 14:15 / 20 MAY 20:35).

IMAX PRESENTATIONS at BFI IMAX

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): FAST X d. Louis Leterrier, 2023 (19 to 25 MAY).

10 YEARS OF A24 at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE LOBSTER d. Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015 (19 MAY 18:20 – Central / 21 MAY various).

ALFRED HITCHCOCK: ACT 1 – 1927 TO 1945 at The Garden Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1934 (19 MAY 18:00 + Intro by John Wischmeyer); THE 39 STEPS d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1935 (20 MAY 13:30); THE LADY VANISHES d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1938 (21 MAY 17:20); REBECCA d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1940 (22 MAY 15:15); SHADOW OF A DOUBT d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1943 (24 MAY 18:00); THE LODGER d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1927 + Live score by Malvern Brume (25 MAY 21:00).

A LUKAS MOODYSSON SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MAMMOTH d. Lukas Moodysson, 2009 (23 MAY 18:00 – £1 Members Film).

ARROW VIDEO CULT FILM at Everyman Screen On The Green

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

BEN WHEATLEY PRESENTS at Picturehouse Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for listings): KILL LIST d. Ben Wheatley, 2011 (22 MAY various / 24 MAY various); IN THE EARTH d. Ben Wheatley, 2021 (25 MAY 20:45 – Picturehouse Central).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION… at BFI Southbank

BRING ME THE FILMS OF SAM PECKINPAH at The Prince Charles

THE CINEMA OF WES ANDERSON ON 35MM at Everyman Screen On The Green

CINEMATIC JUKEBOX / CLASSIC FILM SEASON at The Prince Charles (not listed elsewhere!)

CINEMATIC SORCERESS: THE FILMS OF NINA MENKES at BFI Southbank

THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS… at BFI Southbank

COURIER CINEMA at Biddle Bros

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BIKES VS CARS d. Fredrik Gertten, 2015 (23 MAY 20:00).
  • Presented by Mondo Nights.

DARIO ARGENTO: DOORS INTO DARKNESS at BFI Southbank

DISLOCATION BLUES at Tate Modern

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): Jane Jin Kaisen (25 MAY 18:30).

ESSENTIAL CINEMA at Close-Up Film Centre

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): 3 WOMEN d. Robert Altman, 1977 (19 MAY 20:15); MULHOLLAND DR. d. David Lynch, 2001 (20 MAY 20:15); BADLANDS d. Terrence Malick, 1973 (21 MAY 20:15).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2002 (19 MAY 18:10 / 23 MAY 16:00 / 24 MAY 21:00); PHANTOM THREAD d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017 + Live podcast recording by The Big Picture (20 MAY 17:15); THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (21 MAY 20:05); MAGNOLIA 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999 (24 MAY 12:15).

THE FILMS OF WES ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

FROM THE REQUEST BOARD… at The Prince Charles

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION DRAMA: REDISCOVERING THE HALF-HOUR PLAY at BFI Southbank

GENA & JOHN at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): OPENING NIGHT 35mm d. John Cassavetes, 1977 (22 MAY 12:00); FACES 35mm d. John Cassavetes, 1968 (24 MAY 20:45).

GET REAL at Genesis Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE d. Stephen Frears, 1985 + Q&A with the director (22 MAY 18:30).

JOACHIM TRIER’S OSLO TRILOGY at The Prince Charles

MARILYN MONROE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): SOME LIKE IT HOT d. Billy Wilder, 1959 (21 MAY 12:25 / 23 MAY 13:15).

MICHELLE YEOH SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): ROYAL WARRIORS d. David Chung, 1986 (24 MAY 16:00).

MUKHRIJAT: ARAB WOMEN FILMMAKERS at The Garden Cinema

MURIEL BOX: A WOMAN’S TAKE at BFI Southbank

PERANKH: THE JUNE GIVANNI PANAFRICAN CINEMA ARCHIVE at Raven Row Gallery

SIGHT & SOUND GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME 2022 at Ciné Lumière 

SKIP NORMAN: HERE AND THERE at ICA & Goethe-Institut

SNAPSHOTS: CARIBBEAN CINEMA UP CLOSE at Barbican

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): Currents short film programme (24 MAY 18:30).

SPOTLIGHT ON FEMALE FILMMAKERS at The Prince Charles

TECHNOLOGY ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CASINO d. Martin Scorsese, 1995 (from 21 MAY various).

WB100 – CELEBRATING EVERY STORY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for listings): A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE d. Elia Kazan, 1951 (19 MAY 20:35 / 21 MAY 15:00 / 22 MAY 15:10 / 25 MAY 15:15).

WES ANDERSON MINI-SEASON at Catford Mews

  • Includes (check venue for listings): FANTASTIC MR. FOX d. Wes Anderson, 2009 (22 MAY 20:15).

WES ANDERSON SEASON at Chiswick Cinema

  • Includes (check venue for listings): RUSHMORE d. Wes Anderson, 1998 (21 MAY 20:00); THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS d. Wes Anderson, 2001 (24 MAY 20:00).

WES-TROSPECTIVE at Picturehouse Cinemas

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

WUXIA SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Bussey Building

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Roof East

This is a film still from ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET dir Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023.

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET dir Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023

Various venues, inc: ActOne Cinema / ArtHouse Crouch End / The Castle Cinema / Catford Mews / Chiswick Cinema / Curzon Cinemas / Electric Cinemas / Everyman Cinemas / Genesis Cinema / The Lexi Cinema / Olympic Studios / Phoenix Cinema / Picturehouse Cinemas / Regent Street Cinema

This is a film still from BEAU IS AFRAID dir Ari Aster, 2023.

BEAU IS AFRAID dir Ari Aster, 2023

Various venues, inc: Barbican / The Castle Cinema / Chiswick Cinema / The Cinema In The Arches / Curzon Cinemas / Electric Cinemas / Everyman Cinemas / Genesis Cinema / ICA / Picturehouse Cinemas / Regent Street Cinema / Rich Mix / Rio Cinema / Riverside Studios

This is a film still from NAM JUNE PAIK - MOON IS THE OLDEST TV dir Amanda Kim, 2023.

NAM JUNE PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV dir Amanda Kim, 2023

Various venues, inc: Bertha DocHouse / Ciné Lumière / ICA / Picturehouse Cinemas

Also 19 to 25 MAY (various dates/times):

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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. //.