SUNDAY: What’s on in London today [21/05/23]

SUNDAY 21 MAY 2023 (A–Z) // What’s on in London today across DIY, indie & alternative cinema including one-off screen events, film seasons, film festivals & our selection of new releases.

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

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).

“A criminal hides from the law in a seedy circus, taking on the persona of knife-thrower ‘Alonzo the Armless’. But an obsessive love leads him to amputate his arms for real. Chaney was able to bear the extreme discomfort necessary for his role while successfully conveying profound emotion – the pathos he exudes is almost unbearable and the performance elevates the film from kitsch to classic. A new restoration by George Eastman Museum, with the support of The National Film Preservation Foundation.” (BFI)

• 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.

• The Tufnell Park Film Club Spring Film Quiz! at The Lord Palmerston (21 MAY 19:30).

Check venues for full listings…

35MM PRESENTATIONS at The Prince Charles

•  THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (21 MAY 20:05).

IMAX PRESENTATIONS at BFI IMAX

• FAST X d. Louis Leterrier, 2023 (19 to 25 MAY).

10 YEARS OF A24 at Picturehouse Cinemas

• THE LOBSTER d. Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015 (21 MAY various).

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

• THE LADY VANISHES d. Alfred Hitchcock, 1938 (21 MAY 17:20).

AU CONTRAIRE: JEAN-LUC GODARD at Close-Up

• LETTER TO JANE: AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT A STILL d. Jean-Luc Godard & Jean-Pierre Gorin, 1972 (21 MAY 18:45).

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION… at BFI Southbank

•  STILL WALKING aka Aruitemo Aruitemo d. Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008 (21 MAY 15:40).

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

• A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE d. Elia Kazan, 1951 (21 MAY 15:00).
• EL TOPO d. Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1970 (21 MAY 20:30).

CINEMATIC SORCERESS: THE FILMS OF NINA MENKES at BFI Southbank

• New release: BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER d. Nina Menkes, 2022 (12 to 25 MAY).

THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS… at BFI Southbank

• The Comic Strip Presents: THE STRIKE and GLC: THE CARNAGE CONTINUES… + Q&A with Peter Richardson, Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders (21 MAY 16:00).
• The Comic Strip Presents: BAD NEWS TOUR & CHURCHILL: THE HOLLYWOOD YEARS [The Director’s Savage Cut] + Q&A with Peter Richardson and Nigel Planer (21 MAY 18:30).

DARIO ARGENTO: DOORS INTO DARKNESS at BFI Southbank

•  SLEEPLESS aka Non ho sonno 4K Restoration d. Dario Argento, 2001 (21 MAY 18:10).

THE FILMS OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

• THERE WILL BE BLOOD 35mm d. Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007 (21 MAY 20:05).

THE FILMS OF WES ANDERSON at The Prince Charles

• THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS d. Wes Anderson, 2001 (21 MAY 18:00).

MARILYN MONROE at The Prince Charles

• SOME LIKE IT HOT d. Billy Wilder, 1959 (21 MAY 12:25).

MUKHRIJAT: ARAB WOMEN FILMMAKERS at The Garden Cinema

• THE BLUE CAFTAN d. Maryam Touzani, 2022 (until 25 MAY).
• UNDER THE FIG TREES d. Erige Sehiri, 2021 (until 25 MAY).

MURIEL BOX: A WOMAN’S TAKE at BFI Southbank

• EYEWITNESS aka Point of Crisis d. Muriel Box, 1956 (21 MAY 18:20).

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

• #30 – PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE aka Portrait de la jeune fille en feu d. Céline Sciamma, 2019 (21 MAY 17:45).

TECHNOLOGY ON SCREEN at Ciné Lumière

• NAM JUNE PAIK: MOON IS THE OLDEST TV d. Amanda Kim, 2023 (19 to 25 MAY).

THROWBACK SEASON at Everyman Cinemas

• CASINO d. Martin Scorsese, 1995 (from 21 MAY various).

WB100 – CELEBRATING EVERY STORY at The Prince Charles

• A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE d. Elia Kazan, 1951 (21 MAY 15:00).

WES ANDERSON SEASON at Chiswick Cinema

• RUSHMORE d. Wes Anderson, 1998 (21 MAY 20:00).

WES-TROSPECTIVE at Picturehouse Cinemas

• FANTASTIC MR. FOX + ISLE OF DOGS (20 MAY various / 21 MAY various).

THE WORLD OF WONG KAR WAI at The Prince Charles

• IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE d. Wong Kar Wai, 2000 (21 MAY 17:45 – 4K).

WUXIA SELECTROSPECTIVE at The Prince Charles

• THE ASSASSIN aka Cìkè Niè Yinniáng d. Hsiao-Hsien Hou, 2015 (21 MAY 15:15).

Check venues for full listings…

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Bussey Building

• WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (21 MAY 20:55).

ROOFTOP FILM CLUB at Roof East

• 13 GOING ON 30 2004 (21 MAY 21:00).

• Beyond Words French Literature Festival (12 to 21 MAY).
• ECHOES Indigenous Film Festival (19 to 21 MAY).
• London Japan Film Festival (20 to 21 MAY).
• SERET Israeli Film & TV Festival (18 to 25 MAY).
• Syrian Arts & Cultural Festival (11 to 23 MAY).

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

• THE OTHER FELLOW d. Matthew Bauer, 2022 at: ActOne Cinema.
• STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE d. Davis Guggenheim, 2023 at: Picturehouse Cinemas.
• UNDER THE FIG TREES dir Erige Sehiri, 2022 at: Ciné Lumière / Curzon Cinemas / The Garden Cinema / ICA.

RADIANT CIRCUS is powered by monthly subscribers. Get great rewards & help #ReviveTheDark. JOIN US!

*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. //.