Midweek 2023 to 2024

Vittorio De Sica’s moving portrait of the struggle for survival in post-war Italy won a special Oscar for its emotional power. Filmed on the streets of Rome using mostly non-professional actors, this is a moving and compassionate story of a father and son fighting to overcome adversity.

Inspired by Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd”, this film combines literature, music and dance to explore the world of the French Foreign Legion. Striking cinematography and a tense narrative of conflict between a heroic new recruit and his commandant build to dramatic climax.

The most acclaimed short film of all time - a fascinating trip into a dream world from director Maya Deren.

Spike Lee’s powerful, multi-award winning portrait of urban racial tension is set in Brooklyn, New York, on the hottest day of the year. With an all-star cast it builds to an explosive climax as relationships between different groups deteriorate.

Director Satyajit Ray’s most celebrated work is the “Apu Trilogy” of which is the first part. A moving story of a young boy born into a poor family in Bengal, this film encompasses the full range of emotions from despair to joy and sorrow to optimism.

Set in rural Denmark in the early 20th century, this is a remarkable and moving drama about religious faith, sectarianism, intolerance and rebellion, all set within a single family. It is widely considered as one of the greatest films made by director Carl Theordor Dreyer.

The story of a mute woman who migrates to New Zealand with her young daughter in the middle of the 19th century as part of an arranged marriage. Once they arrive, romance, jealousy and heartache develop against the backdrop of truly spectacular scenery. The film won three Oscars and director Jane Campion made history by becoming the first woman to win the Palme d’Or for best film at Cannes.

Wong Kar Wei’s international breakthrough, this beautiful drama tells of two melancholy Hong Kong policemen falling in love, one with a mysterious female underworld figure, the other with an ethereal waitress at a late-night restaurant where he is a regular customer. They cross paths and their lives develop in unexpected ways.

Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul established himself with international audiences by this fascinating two-part story, half relatively conventional narrative, half in a mysterious deamscape, which in combination produce remarkable, lingering emotions. The film won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

In Metropolis, director Fritz Lang created the first great science fiction film, with his vision of a futuristic city combining scientific progress and human despair. Using 25,000 extras and astonishing special effects, he created the images that continue to shape visions of the future. We are showing the fully restored version of the film with breathtakingly sharp images and a striking musical soundtrack.

From the acclaimed directorial pairing of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger comes a remarkable fantasy in which World War II airman David Niven finds himself summoned to heaven after surviving a plane crash that should have killed him. With England filmed in glorious Technicolor and heaven in monochrome greys, this is an utterly delightful and thought-provoking drama.