THE BALLY #165: What to see in London this week [05 to 11 AUG 2022]

Welcome to THE BALLY where we help you find what to see in London this week across DIY, indie & alternative cinema events, online, outdoors & in venues.

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

Welcome to another (quieter than average…) screen week!

A couple of venues are currently closed for their summer breaks, including Ciné Lumière (resumes 24 August) and The David Lean (resumes 16 August). Check their forward programmes for details.

As planned (!), I’ve published our epic RADIANT CIRCUS roundup for the month of August detailing more than 55 film strands and repertory seasons indoors, and a further 8 seasons at various outdoor locations. Hopefully there’s something great for you to see… Season programmes get updated in the weekly screen guide (to the best of my ability…) as new shows get added and formats shift.

This week’s standalone event highlights include a very special Odorama screening of John Waters’ POLYESTER by Rebel Reel Cine Club at Rio Cinema later tonight (05 AUG), an encore screening of CÉLINE AND JULIE GO BOATING from 35mm following Zodiac Film Club x London Short Film Fest’s weekend collab at ICA (06 AUG), a preview screening of Welsh-language horror show THE FEAST at Picturehouse Hackney (08 AUG – read my Token Homo review here), Tufnell Park Film Club’s tribute to Peter Brook, KING LEAR at The Lord Palmerston (09 AUG), and both CODEX plus conversation with Stuart Pond at BFI and Bruce LaBruce’s SAINT-NARCISSE presented by the Pink Palace team at Rio Cinema (10 AUG).

Of course, if you want something a bit more informal, you can join me for a BAR TRASH screening of George A. Romero’s outrageous carnival of contagion THE CRAZIES as part of my ongoing summer season at the lovely Genesis Cinema’s Bar Paragon (10 AUG, tickets just £1).

I’ve chosen the restored version of Steven Arnold’s LUMINOUS PROCURESS c/o Second Run at ICA as my Featured Attraction of the Week – because any mention of THUNDERCRACK! in an event blurb is my own personal catnip. But a special mention should also go to Ranjit S. Ruprai aka SUPAKINO for another of his epic Bombay Mix screenings at the Rio Cinema on Sunday, where you can see Barbara Kopple’s HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. back to back with Yash Chopra’s KAALA PATTHAR in an unlikely to be repeated double-bill. Just don’t hit the Rosé too hard the night before…

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

LUMINOUS PROCURESS (Restored Version) dir Steven Arnold, 1971 + Introduction by Mehelli Modi, founder of Second Run at ICA (11 AUG 20:45).

“Steven Arnold was one of America’s most original visual artists – a ‘queer mystic’ whose art, and life, knew no boundaries in his adopted home town of San Francisco. Luminous Procuress, his only feature, was fêted by Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol, yet was feared lost for years after its low-profile release in 1971. It’s now been found and restored to all its sensuous glory, and this vivid new restoration receives its UK premiere at the ICA.

Luminous Procuress is the missing link between Flaming Creatures and Thundercrack!, an anarchic vision of a sexual utopia where gender is abstract and liberation is absolute. As The Procuress (Pandora) leads two wide-eyed young men through a wonderland of ill repute, female and male interchange and fuse, and pretty much anything goes. It’s a vivid and valuable document of LGBTQ+ history – and it’s never looked better than today.

The screening will be introduced by Mehelli Modi, founder of Second Run, which releases this new restoration.” (ICA)

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Full daily listings in this week’s SCREEN GUIDE.

FROM JAMAICA TO THE WORLD: REGGAE ON FILM at BFI Southbank

• Includes (check venue for full listings): THE HARDER THEY COME d. Perry Henzell, 1972 + Intro by season curator & author Lloyd Bradley (05 AUG 18:15); NO PLACE LIKE HOME [Redux] d. Perry Henzell, 2006/19 (05 AUG 21:00); DANCEHALL QUEEN 35mm d. Don Letts & Rick Elgood, 1997 (06 AUG 18:40 / 09 AUG 18:20); STEPPIN’ RAZOR: RED X d. Nicholas Campbell, 1992 (07 AUG 18:00).
• Special events: Riddim Moves – A Dancehall day event (06 AUG 13:00).
• Re-release: THE HARDER THEY COME d. Perry Henzell, 1972 (05 to 18 AUG).

More rep seasons listed in this week’s SCREEN GUIDE.

• BUFF 2022 MEDIA DAY (05 AUG).
• Sur-REEL & Uncanny Film Fest (06 AUG).

More outdoor seasons in this week’s SCREEN GUIDE.

More new releases in this week’s SCREEN GUIDE.

• 
  Sine Screen presents Vulnerable Histories at Close-Up & The Garden Cinema (19 to 26 AUG 2023)
• 
  Lost Reels presents 16mm & 35mm screenings at The Cinema Museum & ICA (19 & 31 AUG 2023)
• 
  The Duke Mitchell Film Club presents DukeFest 2023: A Brave New World (13 to 16 AUG 2023)
• 
  Cinema Mentiré launches with OLHAR PERIFERICO season (AUG 2023)

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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. //.