This is a film still from SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY which screens at BFI Southbank as part of their reopening programme (May to June 2021).

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [21 to 27 MAY 2021]

Our regular RADIANT CIRCUS listings covering what’s on in London this week including one-off screen events, film seasons, outdoor events, film festivals & new releases.

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

How’s your first week back in the cinema going?

Whilst not every venue has been able to reopen, and not every audience member feels safe or satisfied with the options available to them, cinema is definitely back. But I’m in no doubt that the government’s ambiguous health advice is playing a role in leaving people confused and concerned about the safety of cinema. For anyone who feels they can step back into the darkness, the pleasures have started to be plentiful.

Highlights for me across reopening week included a spontaneous round of applause after the first day/first film screening of JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH at The Prince Charles that reduced me to tears (17 MAY), my long overdue introduction to silent cinema sensation Josephine Baker with SIREN OF THE TROPICS at BFI (19 MAY), and a spectacularly sold out screening of RARE BEASTS at Genesis Cinema that featured an excellent Q&A with Billie Piper hosted by the trailblazing Mia Bays from Birds’ Eye View (20 MAY).

Looking ahead, I’ve focussed on original format screenings for my Featured Attractions of the Week. And you’ll see I’ve chosen two… Why? Well, the first is simply because SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY 35MM at BFI (24 MAY) is from one of my favourite filmmakers of all time, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Secondly, I’ve chosen a screening from one of London’s finest DIY exhibitors, Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club, who will be presenting DR STRANGELOVE 16MM at The Castle Cinema (27 & 30 MAY). I’ve got to be out of town later this week so can’t be there, but Ciné-Real’s shutdown screening of KING KONG was a highlight of a difficult year, so I’m envious of anyone who can join Ümit and Liam in the actual venue again (and those new seat cushions at The Castle seem just dreamy…).

To complete my roundup of original format projections, don’t forget The Prince Charles continues to sell out screenings of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70MM in its ‘unrestored version’, and they’re also screening Éric Rohmer’s TALE OF SPRINGTIME aka Conte de printemps 35MM this week (27 MAY 18:00). The Prince Charles has added ‘encore presentations‘ of some of their most popular 35MM screenings to their programme for the months ahead (check with the venue for full listings if you’ve been disappointed in the rush).

See you next week, & stay safe,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY 35MM d. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2006 + Pre-recorded intro by director Chaitanya Tamhane at BFI Southbank (24 MAY 20:30) // Part of Dream Palace:

“Inspired by the experiences of the director’s parents, who both worked as doctors in Thailand, SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY is set in two hospitals, one rural, one urban, at different points in time. Weerasethakul described it as ‘a film about heart. It’s not necessarily about love, it’s more about memory. It’s about feelings that have been forever etched in the heart’. Informed by a coherence that’s poetic rather than logical, this is a unique, visionary film by one of this century’s cinematic masters” (BFI).

DR STRANGELOVE 16MM d. Stanley Kubrick, 1964 presented by Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club at The Castle Cinema (27 MAY 19:30 / 30 MAY 13:30):

“Through a series of military and political accidents, a psychotic general – U.S. Air Force Commander Jack D. Ripper – triggers an ingenious, irrevocable scheme to attack Russia’s strategic targets with nuclear bombs. The U.S. President and Dr. Strangelove, a wheelchair-bound nuclear scientist who has bizarre ideas about man’s future, work with the Soviet premier in a desperate effort to save the world.”

FRIDAY 21 MAY

  • 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 at Picturehouse Central (21 MAY 14:50).
  • AMMONITE d. Francis Lee, 2020 at Ciné Lumière (21 MAY 15:45).
  • APPLES d. Christos Nikou, 2021 + Recorded Q&A with the director at Curzon Cinemas (21 MAY various venues).
  • THE BIG LEBOWSKI d. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, 1998 presented by Crofton Park Pictures at Rivoli Ballroom (21 MAY 19:30).
  • COUNTY LINES d. Henry Blake, 2019 at BFI Southbank (21 MAY 18:40).
  • GET OUT d. Jordan Peele, 2017 at Picturehouse Central (21 MAY 20:30).
  • THE HUMAN VOICE d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2020 + Pre-recorded Q&A with Tilda Swinton and Pedro Almodóvar hosted by Mark Kermode at The Lexi Cinema (21 MAY 21:00).
  • POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ d. Celeste Bell & Paul Sng, 2021 at Catford Mews (21 MAY 18:15).
  • QUEEN & SLIM d. Melina Matsoukas, 2019 at Picturehouse Central (21 MAY 15:15).
  • RARE BEASTS d. Billie Piper, 2020 + Intro/Q&A streamed live ahead of the film at Everyman Cinemas (21 MAY 19:40 – various venues).
  • STATE FUNERAL d. Sergei Loznitsa, 2019 at Ciné Lumière (21 MAY 18:00).
  • WINGS OF DESIRE d. Wim Wenders, 1987 at Picturehouse Central (21 MAY 12:30).

ONLINE

  • GURUMBÉ: AFRO-ANDALUSIAN MEMORIES aka Gurumbé: Canciones de tu memoria negra d. Miguel Ángel Rosales, 2016 + Discussion at BIMI (21 MAY 18:00 – FREE ONLINE EVENT).
  • QUO VADIS, AIDA? d. Jasmila Zbanic, 2020 + Discussion with the director & journalist Janine di Giovanni at Frontline Club (21 MAY 19:00 – FREE ONLINE EVENT).

SATURDAY 22 MAY

  • 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 at Picturehouse Central (22 MAY 14:50).
  • AMMONITE d. Francis Lee, 2020 at Ciné Lumière (22 MAY 20:35).
  • COUNTY LINES d. Henry Blake, 2019 at BFI Southbank (22 MAY 20:45).
  • THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA: 15th Anniversary Screening d. David Frankel, 2006 at Everyman Broadgate (22 MAY 16:00).
  • E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL d. Steven Spielberg, 1982 presented by Crofton Park Pictures at Rivoli Ballroom (22 MAY 12:15).
  • THE GOONIES d. Richard Donner, 1985 presented by Crofton Park Pictures at Rivoli Ballroom (22 MAY 16:00).
  • THE HUMAN VOICE d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2020 + Pre-recorded Q&A with Tilda Swinton and Pedro Almodóvar hosted by Mark Kermode at BFI Southbank (22 MAY 15:00).
  • THE HUMAN VOICE d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2020 + Pre-recorded Q&A with Tilda Swinton and Pedro Almodóvar hosted by Mark Kermode at Ciné Lumière (22 MAY 14:30 & 16:20).
  • THE KARATE KID d. John G. Avildsen, 1984 at The Prince Charles (22 MAY 15:40).
  • POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ d. Celeste Bell & Paul Sng, 2021 at Catford Mews (22 MAY 14:30).
  • PULP FICTION d. Quentin Tarantino, 1994 presented by Crofton Park Pictures at Rivoli Ballroom (22 MAY 20:00).
  • QUEEN & SLIM d. Melina Matsoukas, 2019 at Picturehouse Central (22 MAY 15:10).
  • Woman With A Movie Camera: RARE BEASTS d. Billie Piper, 2019 + Q&A with the director at BFI Southbank (22 MAY 17:15 – SOLD OUT!).
  • SOUND OF METAL d. Darius Marder, 2019 + Recorded Q&A at ArtHouse Crouch End (22 MAY 15:00).
  • SURGE d. Aneil Karia, 2020 + Q&A with the director at Genesis Cinema (22 MAY 18:00).
  • WOLFWALKERS d. Tom Moore & Ross Stewart, 2020 at Phoenix Cinema (22 MAY 13:30).
  • WONDER WOMAN 1984 d. Patty Jenkins, 2020 at Genesis Cinema (22 MAY 14:50).

SUNDAY 23 MAY

MONDAY 24 MAY

ONLINE

TUESDAY 25 MAY

  • THE 8TH d. Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy & Maeve O’Boyle, 2020 at The Castle Cinema (25 MAY 14:00 & 20:45).
  • THE 8TH d. Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy & Maeve O’Boyle, 2020 at The Lexi Cinema (25 MAY 18:15).
  • 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 at Picturehouse Central (25 MAY 15:00).
  • BATTLE ROYALE d. Kinji Fukasaku, 2000 + Intro & Salon presented by Nick Walker / Cult Classic Collective at Genesis Cinema (25 MAY 18:20).
  • QUEEN & SLIM d. Melina Matsoukas, 2019 at Picturehouse Central (25 MAY 17:15).
  • SOUND OF METAL d. Darius Marder, 2019 + Recorded Q&A at ArtHouse Crouch End (25 MAY 18:00).

WEDNESDAY 26 MAY

  • THE 8TH d. Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy & Maeve O’Boyle, 2020 at The Castle Cinema (26 MAY 11:30 & 19:00).
  • THE 8TH d. Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy & Maeve O’Boyle, 2020 at The Lexi Cinema (26 MAY 15:20).
  • COUNTY LINES d. Henry Blake, 2019 at BFI Southbank (26 MAY 20:30).
  • DEMON SLAYER: MUGEN TRAIN d. Haruo Sotozaki, 2020 at Genesis Cinema (26 MAY 18:10).
  • DEMON SLAYER: MUGEN TRAIN d. Haruo Sotozaki, 2020 at BFI IMAX (26 MAY 20:30).
  • DEMON SLAYER: MUGEN TRAIN d. Haruo Sotozaki, 2020 at Picturehouse (26 MAY various venues).
  • THE HUMAN VOICE d. Pedro Almodóvar, 2020 + Pre-recorded Q&A with Tilda Swinton and Pedro Almodóvar hosted by Mark Kermode at Ciné Lumière (26 MAY 20:35).
  • MONOS d. Alejandro Landes, 2019 at Picturehouse Central (26 MAY 15:45).
  • SOUND OF METAL d. Darius Marder, 2019 + Recorded Q&A at Lexi Cinema (26 MAY 20:15).
  • STATE FUNERAL d. Sergei Loznitsa, 2019 at Ciné Lumière (26 MAY 18:00).
  • UK Asian Film Festival Opening night: RAAHGIR d. Goutam Ghose, 2019 + Skype Q&A with the director at BFI Southbank (26 MAY 20:45).

THURSDAY 27 MAY

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing)

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles (ongoing)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70MM ‘unrestored version’ d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 (21 MAY 20:01 / 24 MAY 12:00 / 26 MAY 20:01 / 27 MAY 12:00).

ANIMA(C)TION at Ciné Lumière (from 23 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LE ROMAN DE RENARD aka The Story of the Fox d. Irène & Ladislas Starewitch, 1930-41 + FOX HUNT d. Anthony Gross & Hector Hoppin, 1936 (23 MAY 16:10).

ANIME SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles (from 21 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): AKIRA d. Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988 (24 MAY 15:40 & 20:30 / 25 MAY 17:45 / 26 MAY 14:40 / 27 MAY 21:00 – SUB).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles (ongoing)

BEST OF CÉSAR 2021 at Ciné Lumière (from 18 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I aka Antoinette dans les Cévennes d. Caroline Vignal, 2020 (21 MAY 20:35 / 23 MAY 19:40 / 24 MAY 18:20 / 25 MAY 20:15 / 26 MAY 20:35 / 27 MAY 20:35); HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE aka La Bonne épouse d. Martin Provost, 2020 (22 MAY 20:40).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: THE TIMELESS BEAUTY OF BLACK & WHITE at BFI Southbank (from 17 MAY)

DREAM PALACE at BFI Southbank (from 17 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA d. Spike Lee, 2020 + Intro by Tricia Tuttle, BFI Festivals Director (21 MAY 18:00); CAR WASH 35MM d. Michael Schultz, 1976 + Intro by Gurinder Chadha (21 MAY 20:55); BEGINNING d. Dea Kulumbegashvili, 2020 + Pre-recorded intro by director Luca Guadagnino (22 MAY 11:30); BLACK NARCISSUS 35MM d. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1947 + Intro by director Edgar Wright (22 MAY 14:20); THE WONDERS aka Le meraviglie d. Alice Rohrwacher, 2014 + Pre-recorded intro by director Mark Cousins (22 MAY 15:15); HAIR d. Milos Forman, 1979 + Pre-recorded intro by director Kleber Mendonça Filho (22 MAY 20:30); MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION 35MM d. Douglas Sirk, 1954 + Intro by Heather Stewart, BFI Creative Director (23 MAY 12:45); FEAR EATS THE SOUL aka Angst essen Seele auf d. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1974 + Intro by Heather Stewart, BFI Creative Director (23 MAY 15:45); BEAU TRAVAIL d. Claire Denis, 1999 + Pre-recorded intro by director Kirsten Johnson (23 MAY 18:40); MIRROR aka Zerkalo d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1975 + Pre-recorded intro by director Małgorzata Szumowska (24 MAY 17:50); SYNDROMES & A CENTURY 35MM (d. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2006) + Pre-recorded intro by director Chaitanya Tamhane (24 MAY 20:30 – main featured image); GOODBYE, DRAGON INN aka Bú sàn d. Tsai Ming-liang, 2003 + intro by director Peter Strickland (26 MAY 18:10); THE GLEANERS & I aka Les glaneurs et la glaneuse d. Agnès Varda, 2000 + Pre-recorded intro by director Zhu Shengze (27 MAY 18:15).

ÉRIC ROHMER at The Prince Charles (from 27 MAY)

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles (from 26 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): HARD EIGHT aka Sydney d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 1996 (26 MAY 17:30).

HER VOICE: BLACK WOMEN FROM THE SPOTLIGHT TO THE SCREEN at BFI Southbank (from 17 MAY)

JAMES BOND 007 at The Prince Charles (from 22 MAY)

L.A. NIGHTS at Backyard Cinema (from 19 MAY)

MIAMI BEACH at Backyard Cinema (from 17 MAY)

ROBERT ALTMAN: AMERICAN OUTSIDER at BFI Southbank (from 17 MAY)

THAT’S KINO, BABY! at The Prince Charles (from 17 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): 8 1/2 d. Federico Fellini, 1963 (25 MAY 20:30).

WOMEN PIONEERS OF FRENCH CINEMA at Ciné Lumière (from 19 MAY)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): OLIVIA 4K d. Jacqueline Audry, 1951 + Recorded intro by Prof. Ginette Vincendeau (23 MAY 14:00).

PLAN AHEAD WITH OUR FULL MAY ROUNDUP

The Drive In at Troubadour Meridian Water

Drive In Film Club at Alexandra Palace

Drive In Film Club at Brent Cross

HideAway Cinema at Honourable Artillery Company, EC1Y

Rooftop Cinema at Bar Elba SE1

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY d. Bryan Singer, 2018 (23 MAY 21:00).

Rooftop Film Club, Peckham (from 21 MAY)

Rooftop Film Club, Stratford East (from 18 MAY)

PLAN AHEAD WITH OUR FULL MAY ROUNDUP

APPLES d. Christos Nikou, 2020 at ArtHouse, Curzon & Riverside Studios (other venues available!).

This is a film still from RARE BEASTS (2021) which screens at Genesis Cinema on 20 MAY 2021 as part of their reopening programme.

RARE BEASTS d. Billie Piper, 2019 at ArtHouse, The Castle, Curzon, Everyman, Genesis, Riverside Studios (other venues available!).

This is a film still from SPRING BLOSSOM.

SPRING BLOSSOM d. Suzanne Lindon, 2020 at Ciné Lumière (21 to 25 + 27 MAY) & Curzon (daily until 27 MAY).

WINGS OF DESIRE d. Wim Wenders, 1987 at Picturehouse Central (daily until 27 MAY).

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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. //.