THE BALLY #167: What to see in London this week [19 to 25 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 screen week!

If this week is characterised by anything, it’s the number of indie releases, revivals and restorations that are bathing London’s cinema screens in light. I’ve chosen Todd Chandler’s BULLETPROOF as my Featured Attraction of the Week because, with a sister-in-law teaching in the American elementary school system, it asks a question that is close to my family’s heart: What does it mean to be safe at school in the United States?

Other highlights from our regular GRIND SHOWS selection include the re-release of Menelik Shabazz’s BURNING AN ILLUSION, the 4K restoration of Robert Wise’s STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE [Director’s Edition], Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s ANAÏS IN LOVE, Lee Haven Jones’ Welsh-language horror show THE FEAST, and Julie Ha and Eugene Yi’s FREE CHOL SOO LEE (which screens in some venues with a recorded Q&A). Find all these delights and more in our full online Screen Guide.

If you’re looking for one-off, special events, you can start your screen week with the pure cinematic joy of THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG at The Garden Cinema as part of their regular Musical Fridays strand (19 AUG), followed on Saturday by a special screening of THE SEVENTH VEIL as part of the new Made At Riversidestrand at Riverside Studios (20 AUG). On Sunday, either join Ciné-Real 16mm Film Club for the first of their screenings at The Castle Cinema this week, ON THE WATERFRONT, or head to The Apple Tree Pop-Up for Bohemia Media’s free screening of Jennifer Reeder’s SIGNATURE MOVE (both 21 AUG).

On Monday, Crap Film Club continues their journey through disreputable cinema with THE SWORD AND THE CLAW at The Old Queen’s Head. On the same day, the Prince Charles has one of my favourite films as their latest £1 Members’ Screening, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, as well as a special presentation of MICHAEL COLLINS to mark the centenary of his death, which includes a Q&A with Chris Menges, the film’s director of photography (all 22 AUG). In addition to the film, our great friends at Irish Film London will be hosting a meet up at The Crown & Two Chairmen Soho from 6pm to 8pm for all Irish filmmakers, actors and fans.

After all that, I’d be heading back to The Garden Cinema on Tuesday for a members’ choice screening of Max Ophüls’ THE RECKLESS MOMENT (23 AUG), before experiencing a new (to these pages at least…) film night from Baesianz Cinema Club with KA BODYSCAPES at Spanners in SW9 (24 AUG). Finally, round your week off with a choice between the return of Ciné-Real with LA GRANDE ILLUSION at The Castle, or take a second chance in recent weeks to get the scratch and sniff cards out with Cult Classic Collective’s screening, sniffing and discussion of POLYESTER at Genesis Cinema (both 25 AUG).

See you in the darkness, and stay safe.

Richard // RADIANT CIRCUS

PS – See you at FrightFest?

BULLETPROOF dir. Todd Chandler, 2020 exclusively at ICA (19 to 25 AUG):

“What does it mean to be safe at school in the United States? Safe from what – and from whom? Screening as part of the Summer Exclusives series of films that can only be seen in the UK at the ICA, Todd Chandler’s feature both asks and complicates these questions with a provocative exploration of fear and American violence.”

“Bulletproof examines the culture of mass shootings within American schools. But rather than focusing on any one event, Chandler takes us through the ritualised preparations and drills that now form part of an average school day. From teacher training sessions at gun ranges to trade fairs specialising in bulletproof whiteboards, Bulletproof is a cinematic meditation on the forces that shape the culture of violence in the US – a nightmarish vision of a capitalist society where there’s money to be made from fear, terror and death.” (ICA)

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Full daily listings in this week’s SCREEN GUIDE.

SUMMER OF SCI-FI at The Castle Cinema

• Includes (check venue for listings): POSSESSOR d. Brandon Cronenberg, 2020 presented by Queer Horror Nights (19 AUG 19:00); MELANCHOLIA d. Lars von Trier. 2011 presented by No Bollocks Film Club (23 AUG 18:30); Sci-Fi Shorts presented by Zodiac Film Club x Final Girls Berlin (24 AUG 18:45).

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

• FrightFest 2022 (25 to 29 AUG).

More outdoor seasons listed 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. //.