This is a film still from THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, screening at Tufnell Park Film Club (27 July 2021).

SCREEN GUIDE: What’s on in London this week [23 to 29 JUL 2021]

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

WONG KAR WAI season at the BFI has obviously been a huge seller (in these capacity-limited times…) with their programming strategy recently resorting to “let’s squeeze another one into the Studio”… Needless to say, most of these additional dates have also already sold out. But we’re trying to keep up…

I don’t know if the parallel season THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WEI at ICA has been as popular, but they are adding to the veritable banquet of arthouse cinema favourites in this reopening era with seasons launching this week devoted to ANDREI TARKOVSKY and AGNÈS VARDA. Also in seasons, BFI starts screening Márta Mészáros’s DIARY trilogy, starting on Saturday with DIARY FOR MY CHILDREN (24 JUL). Call the BFI box office for a discounted joint ticket. Full details of these delights and more in our FILM SEASONS section.

The big opening this week is undoubtably Sundance Film Festival London at Picturehouse Central which beams its special Q&A screening of Edgar Wright’s THE SPARKS BROTHERS almost everywhere on 29 JUL. We’ve listed as many screenings as we could spot. And, as one door opens… Ciné Lumière goes on their summer break this week, starting 23 JUL and reopening again on 25 AUG: bonnes vacances!

As to new releases, and as a lifelong horror-head, I’m really excited by the great reviews OLD is getting (and why not see it at your favourite indie venue?). Then, JW3 gives the new restoration of GIRLFRIENDS a good run, and The Prince Charles has TAXI DRIVER on 35MM for the full week. Check out all the new indie openings – of which there’s a bunch – in our GRIND SHOW section.

We often hear about blended futures, but it’s never quite clear what that means in practice…. Watermans builds on their successful online lockdown film club, No Ticket Required, with a new programme of Polish films screening in IRL in the venue and then followed by an online talk and discussion with expert Michael Brooke. The programme launches with Piotr Domalewski’s I NEVER CRY (various screening dates listed below, the talk is on 28 Jul).

Finally, you might also like the 50th Anniversary screening of Mike Hodges’ GET CARTER at Olympic Studios (27 JUL), where the original score was recorded. There’s a handy link to a video of Roy Budd playing his classic theme in Studio One on the booking page…

For our Featured Attraction Of The Week, I’ve chosen THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (27 JUL). The film was selected by their audience using the club’s unique programming system, where “every film we show is somehow connected to the previous one screened – sort of like a perpetual double bill”. That means audiences decide what comes next by voting for one of three films linked to the previous one by a theme. The winner of their first post-lockdown chain vote is linked to previous film UMBERTO D by the theme of ‘mature protagonists’. You can scroll back through time with their wonderful Chain post.

See you in the darkness,

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

PS – You might have seen this… but we’ve launched the first sponsored screening as part of our #ReviveTheDark initiative… Zodiac Film Club will present Jane Campion’s “criminally under-watched erotic thriller” IN THE CUT (2003) at Mama Shelter on 07 SEP 2021 with our help. Revive The Dark is an audience-backed initiative to support and celebrate alternative screen culture in London, powered by funding from subscribers at RADIANT CIRCUS. Basically, we’re helping expert DIY exhibitors get back out there… Subscribe at patreon.com/radiantcircus to help RADIANT CIRCUS back more indie events like this one (and get a great bunch of rewards!).

THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE d. Peter Yates, 1973 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (27 JUL 20:00).

  • “In one of the best performances of his legendary career, Robert Mitchum plays world-weary, small-time gunrunner, Eddie ‘Fingers’ Coyle. Living hand to mouth, Coyle works the sidelines of the seedy Boston underworld. But when he finds himself facing a second stretch of hard time, he’s forced to weigh loyalty to his criminal colleagues against snitching to stay free.”
  • Tufnell Park Film Club shows “a great film every Tuesday in the upstairs room of The Lord Palmerston, a long-established pub, just a short walk from Tufnell Park tube. The club was set up in July 2012 by Nigel Smith and Wayne Gooderham.”

FRIDAY 23 JUL

  • BABY BOY d. John Singleton, 2001 + social presented by Black Ink Cinema at Genesis Cinema (23 JUL 19:30+).
  • BATTLE ROYALE d. Kinji Fukasaku, 2000 at The Prince Charles (23 JUL 12:00).
  • BRASSED OFF d. Mark Herman, 1996 at Catford Mews (23 JUL 18:30).
  • CELESTE: ON WITH THE SHOW d. Raja Virdi, 2021 + Q&A with Celeste at Everyman Cinemas (23 JUL various).
  • I NEVER CRY aka Jak najdalej stad d. Piotr Domalewski, 2020 at Watermans + Film talk with Michael Brooke afterwards online (23 JUL 13:00 – Online talk 28 JUL 20:00).
  • JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH d. Shaka King, 2021 at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (23 JUL 19:45).
  • TOP GUN d. Tony Scott, 1986 at Everyman Cinemas (23 JUL 20:30).

SATURDAY 24 JUL

SUNDAY 25 JUL

MONDAY 26 JUL

  • I NEVER CRY aka Jak najdalej stad d. Piotr Domalewski, 2020 at Watermans + Film talk with Michael Brooke afterwards online (26 JUL 19:00 – Online talk 28 JUL 20:00).
  • MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE d. Stephen Frears, 1985 at Picturehouse Bromley (26 JUL 19:45).
  • SWEAT d. Magnus von Horn, 2021 at Genesis Cinema (26 JUL 21:00).

TUESDAY 27 JUL

  • ATLANTIS d. Valentyn Vasyanovych, 2019 at ICA (27 JUL 20:30).
  • THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE d. Peter Yates, 1973 presented by Tufnell Park Film Club at The Lord Palmerston (27 JUL 20:00).
  • GET CARTER: 50th Anniversary d. Mike Hodges, 1971 at Olympic Studios (27 JUL 20:10).
  • GIRLFRIENDS d. Claudia Weill, 1978 at Picturehouse Cinemas (27 JUL various).
  • GIRLFRIENDS d. Claudia Weill, 1978 at Genesis Cinema (27 JUL 21:05).
  • GORBACHEV. HEAVEN d. Vitaly Mansky, 2020 presented by Klassiki at Bertha DocHouse (27 JUL 18:30).
  • THE GREAT NHS HEIST d. Drew McFadyen, 2019 + Q&A with Bob Gill at Genesis Cinema (27 JUL 18:25).
  • HONEYLAND d. Tamara Kotevska & Ljubomir Stefanov, 2019 + Q&A with film journalist Leigh Singer presented by Wimbledon Film Club at Curzon Wimbledon (27 JUL 20:30).
  • I NEVER CRY aka Jak najdalej stad d. Piotr Domalewski, 2020 at Watermans + Film talk with Michael Brooke afterwards online (27 JUL 19:00 – Online talk 28 JUL 20:00).
  • LADY BOSS: THE JACKIE COLLINS STORY d. Laura Fairrie, 2021 + Recorded Q&A at Picturehouse Cinemas (27 JUL various).

WEDNESDAY 28 JUL

  • BRASSED OFF d. Mark Herman, 1996 at Catford Mews (28 JUL 18:30).
  • CABARET MAXIME d. Bruno De Almeida, 2018 UK Premiere at Rio Cinema (28 JUL 20:30).
  • COLLECTIVE d. Alexander Nanau, 2020 at Screen25 Cinema at Harris Academy South Norwood (28 JUL 19:45).
  • GIRLFRIENDS d. Claudia Weill, 1978 at Picturehouse Cinemas (28 JUL various).
  • IF IT WERE LOVE d. Patric Chiha, 2020 at ICA (28 JUL 18:30).
  • JUMBO d. Zoé Wittock, 2019 at Genesis Cinema (28 JUL 21:00).
  • LADY BOSS: THE JACKIE COLLINS STORY d. Laura Fairrie, 2021 + Recorded Q&A at Picturehouse Cinemas (28 JUL various).
  • LIMBO d. Ben Sharrock, 2021 + Q&A with the director at The Castle Cinema (28 JUL 18:30).
  • MY FATHER, THE SPY d. Jaak Kilmi & Gints Grūbe, 2019 at Bertha DocHouse (28 JUL 16:20).
  • SISTERS WITH TRANSISTORS d. Lisa Rovner, 2020 + AFTERPARTY AT SUPERMAX at Everyman King’s Cross (28 JUL 18:30).
  • SPARKLING: THE STORY OF CHAMPAGNE d. Frank Mannion, 2021 + Glass of champagne at Olympic Studios (28 JUL 18:20).
  • SWEAT d. Magnus von Horn, 2021 at Olympic Studios (28 JUL 19:30).

THURSDAY 29 JUL

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

70MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DUNE 70MM d. David Lynch, 1984 (23 JUL 20:45); 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 70MM d. Stanley Kubrick, 1968 ‘unrestored print’ (28 JUL 20:15).

AGNÈS VARDA at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CLÉO FROM 5-7 d. Agnès Varda, 1962 (24 JUL 15:45); VAGABOND d. Agnès Varda, 1985 (25 JUL 14:00); THE GLEANERS & I d. Agnès Varda, 2000 (28 JUL 21:20).

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at ICA

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): IVAN’S CHILDHOOD d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962 (23 JUL 20:40); ANDREI RUBLEV d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1966 (24 JUL 20:00); SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (25 JUL 20:20); MIRROR d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1975 (27 JUL 20:55); STALKER d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979 (28 JUL 18:05); NOSTALGHIA d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1983 (29 JUL 18:10).

ANDREI TARKOVSKY at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MIRROR d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1975 (25 JUL 14:30 & 17:00 / 28 JUL 12:15).

ANIME SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PORCO ROSSO d. Hayao Miyazaki, 1992 (25 JUL 12:00 – SUB); AKIRA d. Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988 (25 JUL 12:30 / 27 JUL 12:15).

ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGS at The Prince Charles

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: TOGETHERNESS at BFI Southbank (from 01 JUL):

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): HOPE & GLORY d. John Boorman, 1987 (23 JUL 18:00); BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN aka Bronenosets Potemkin d. Sergei Eisenstein, 1925 at BFI Southbank (24 JUL 11:50); CASABLANCA d. Michael Curtiz, 1942 (24 JUL 14:40 / 29 JUL 18:00); THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS 35MM d. Orson Welles, 1942 (25 JUL 15:00); MAN ABOUT TOWN aka Le Silence est d’or d. René Clair, 1947 (26 JUL 14:20); WILD STRAWBERRIES aka Smultronstället d. Ingmar Bergman, 1957 (27 JUL 14:30); REAR WINDOW d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1954 (26 JUL 18:00 / 31 JUL 11:10); 35 SHOTS OF RUM 35MM aka 35 Rhums d. Claire Denis, 2008 + Recorded Intro by Be Manzini, poet and director of Caramel Film Club (28 JUL 17:40).

BUT WHERE ARE YOU REALLY FROM? presented by T A P E Collective at BFI Southbank (from 01 JUL):

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): In Conversation with Nikesh Shukla (23 JUL 18:20); PINKY d. Elia Kazan, 1949 + Short: TWO d. Daisy Ifama, 2017 (24 JUL 11:40); LILTING d. Hong Khaou, 2009 + Short: TAAROF: A VERBAL DANCE d. Alannah Olivia, 2018 (24 JUL 17:20 / 30 JUL 20:40); HEAD-ON aka Gegen die Wand d. Fatih Akin, 2004 + Short: SORRY, MY SOMALI IS NOT VERY GOOD d. Warda Mohamed, 2020 (27 JUL 20:40); SHOOT THE MESSENGER d. Ngozi Onwurah, 2006 + Q&A with the director hosted by T A P E’s Angela Moneke (29 JUL 17:45).

THE CINEMA OF MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS at BFI Southbank (from 05 JUL)

CLOSE-UP ON ANDREI TARKOVSKY at Close-Up

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): MIRROR d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1974 (23 JUL 20:15); SOLARIS d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972 (24 JUL 19:15); ANDREI RUBLEV d. Andrei Tarkovsky, 1966 (25 JUL 19:00).

DOCUMENTARIES at The Prince Charles (from 09 JUL)

FEMALE LEADS at Everyman Broadgate

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LADY BIRD d. Greta Gerwig, 2017 (24 JUL 21:00).

THE FILMS OF QUENTIN TARANTINO at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PULP FICTION 35MM d. Quentin Tarantino, 1994 (24 JUL 20:30).

JAMES BOND 007 at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): LICENCE TO KILL d. John Glen, 1989 (24 JUL 17:30).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

JOIN THE #BONGHIVE at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PARASITE d. Bong Joon-ho, 2019 (26 JUL 12:15 / 29 JUL 18:00).

KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI’S THREE COLOURS TRILOGY at The Prince Charles (from 13 JUL)

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): THREE COLOURS: WHITE 35MM d. Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1994 (27 JUL 17:35 / 29 JUL 14:55).

L.A. NIGHTS at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

MIAMI BEACH at Backyard Cinema

  • Continues at Capital Studios (check venue for listings).

ROBERT ALTMAN: AMERICAN OUTSIDER at BFI Southbank

STUDIO GHIBLI at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): PORCO ROSSO d. Hayao Miyazaki, 1992 (25 JUL 12:00 – SUB).

TALES OF TOMORROW: SCI-FI SELECTIONS at The Prince Charles

TEEN MOVIES at The Prince Charles

THAT’S KINO, BABY! at The Prince Charles

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): CINEMA PARADISO aka Nuovo Cinema Paradiso d. Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988 (24 JUL 12:00).

WONG KAR WAI at BFI Southbank (from 07 JUL)

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WEI at ICA (from 07 JUL)

Archlight Outdoor Cinema on the Coaling Jetty, Battersea

Deeper Into Movies at Dalston Roof Park

  • Includes (check promoter for full listings): PERSEPOLIS d. Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi, 2007 (26 JUL 20:00).

The Luna Cinema at various venues

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): DIRTY DANCING d. Emile Ardolino, 1987 at Hampton Court Palace (23 JUL 21:15); DIRTY DANCING d. Emile Ardolino, 1987 at Clapham Common (23 JUL 21:15); KNIVES OUT d. Rian Johnson, 2019 at Kenwood House (23 JUL 21:15); THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Sing-A-Long d. Michael Gracey, 2017 at Hampton Court Palace (24 JUL 21:15); THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Sing-A-Long d. Michael Gracey, 2017 at Kenwood House (24 JUL 21:15); THE GREATEST SHOWMAN d. Michael Gracey, 2017 at Clapham Common (24 JUL 21:15); BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY d. Bryan Singer, 2018 at Hampton Court Palace (25 JUL 21:15); NOTTING HILL d. Roger Michell, 1999 at Kenwood House (25 JUL 21:15); TOP GUN d. Tony Scott, 1986 at Clapham Common (25 JUL 21:15); KNIVES OUT d. Rian Johnson, 2019 at Westminster Abbey (29 JUL 21:00).

Rooftop Cinema at Bar Elba SE1

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): GHOST d. Jerry Zucker, 1990 (23 JUL 19:00); MAMA MIA! d. Phyllida Lloyd, 2008 (24 JUL 14:00); BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY d. Bryan Singer, 2018 (24 JUL 19:00); SCREAM d. Wes Craven, 1996 (25 JUL 21:00); MAMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN! d. Ol Parker, 2018 (26 JUL 21:00); GREASE d. Randal Kleiser, 1978 (27 JUL 21:00); SEX & THE CITY d. Michael Patrick King, 2008 (28 JUL 21:00); DEADPOOL 2 d. David Leitch, 2018 (29 JUL 21:00).

Rooftop Film Club, Peckham

  • Includes (check venue for full listings): SUPERBAD d. Greg Mottola, 2007 (23 JUL 21:00); PULP FICTION d. Quentin Tarantino, 1994 (24 JUL 21:00); STAND BY ME d. Rob Reiner, 1986 (25 JUL 21:00); IN THE HEIGHTS d. Jon M. Chu, 2021 (26 JUL 21:00); THE BIG LEBOWSKI d. Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, 1998 (27 JUL 21:00); IN THE HEIGHTS d. Jon M. Chu, 2021 (28 JUL 21:00); GOODFELLAS d. Martin Scorsese, 1990 (29 JUL 21:00).

Rooftop Film Club, Stratford East

GIRLFRIENDS d. Claudia Weill, 1978

  • Daily: JW3 (not 24 JUL).

OLD d. M. Night Shyamalan, 2021

TAXI DRIVER 35MM d. Martin Scorsese, 1976

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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. //.