Press room

Barbican Cinema, Barbican Centre
June 2019 highlights
barbican.org.uk/whats-on/cinema

Curated by the Barbican:  

• Bebop New York: Birth of American Indie Cinema
• After the Wave: Young French Cinema in the 1970s
• Early Japanese Animation + live accompaniment by the Guildhall Electronic Music Studio
• A Moon For My Father + ScreenTalk with Mania Akbari & Douglas White
• Barbican Archive Mixtape
• Unsettling + ScreenTalk with director Iris Zaki
• AlphaGo + presentation by Thore Graepel
• Family Film Club

Also Screening at the Barbican:

• The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival: Film, Power & Politics

Event Cinema:

• RSC Live: The Taming of the Shrew
• Afternoon Arts: Australian Ballet: Spartacus
• Royal Opera House Live: Romeo and Juliet
• NT Encore: All About Eve
• Afternoon Arts: Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh and Japan
• Live from Shakespeare’s Globe: The Merry Wives of Windsor
• NT Live: Small Island
• Glyndebourne: Cinderella

Curated by the Barbican:

Bebop New York: Birth of American Indie Cinema
4 - 25 Jun, Cinema 1&3

The second part of this Barbican season presents a selection of films made in New York from the mid-50s to the mid-60s, all emerging from the city’s burgeoning bohemia. At a time when Hollywood films set in New York were still shot on Californian backlots, these films were made on location and captured urban life in its raw, unrefined state. Allied to this, there is a sense of spontaneity and immediacy that is new, and a first-person, experiential, shooting style which allows us to inhabit the filmmaker’s way of seeing. The season complements Lee Krasner: Living with Colour in the Barbican Art Gallery.

This month’s screenings include a double-bill from director Peter Emmanuel Goldman, Echoes of Silence (1964) and Pestilent City (1965), two rare micro-budget indies which offer captivating images of beat-era New York; an evening of short films by women pioneers of independent American cinema including Marie Menken, Shirley Clarke and Storm de Hirsch introduced by curator Helen de Witt;

Shirley Clarke’s The Cool World (1963), a compelling portrait of 1960s Harlem street life, set to Dizzy Gillepsie’s celebrated jazz score, the first feature to be shot in the borough; and In the Street a programme of rare short films showing New York in the 50s including work by DA Pennebaker, and films by street photographers Helen Levitt, William Klein and Rudy Burckhardt.

For more information: www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/series/bebop-new-york
To view the full press release:
www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/press-room/bebop-new-york-birth-of-american-indie-cinema


After the Wave: Young French Cinema in the 1970s
6 - 27 Jun, Cinema 3

Taking place throughout June and July, this season showcases the films of the younger, radical generation of directors who emerged in France in the wake of the New Wave and of the events of May ’68.

The 1970s brought a new frankness about sex, an interest in the cultural fall-out of May ’68, and, above all, a foregrounding of regional, working-class and female protagonists.

The season highlights women who were breaking into the industry in larger numbers and beginning to make films, including Chantal Akerman’s stunning feature debut Je, Tu, Il, Elle (France/ Belguim 1974), which she made at just 23, dealing with themes of intimacy, desire, longing and alienation. Desire is also central theme of Catherine Breillat’s visceral debut A Real Young Girl (France 1976), in which she rips apart conventional images of adolescent girlhood and portrays a raw and honest account of female sexuality.

Other highlights in June include Philippe Garrel’s L’enfant secret (France 1979) based on the director’s own life and relationship with German singer Nico, and My Little Loves (France 1974), from Jean Eustache, one of the brightest stars of 70s French cinema, is a tender coming-of-age story based on the director’s own working class upbringing in the provincial city of Narbonne.

For more information: www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/series/after-the-wave
To view the full press release:
www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/press-room/after-the-wave-young-french-cinema-in-the-1970s

Early Japanese Animation + live accompaniment by the Guildhall Electronic music Studio
Silent Film and Live Music
Sun 9 Jun 3pm, Cinema 1

A selection of rarely screened early Japanese animation, showing some of the very first anime films, which will be accompanied by electronic music on our biggest screen. These include: Namakura Gatana (The Dull Sword, 1917) and Kobu-Tori (The Lump, 1929), offer a fascinating glimpse into the beginnings of a rich history of Japanese animation which continues to this day. We here present a compilation of these very early anime films with live musical accompaniment by composers and musicians of the Guildhall’s Electronic Music Studio.

A Moon For My Father (#) + ScreenTalk with Mania Akbari & Douglas White, hosted by Peter Bradshaw
UK/Iran 2018 Dirs Mania Akbari, Douglas White 75 min
Fri 14 June 6.30pm, Cinema 2

A meeting of cinema and sculpture investigates remembrance and reconstruction, putting the trauma of the body in conversation with collective memory. Written and directed by London-based Iranian filmmaker Mania Akbari and her partner, British sculptor Douglas White, A Moon For My Father weaves a poetic tapestry from years of written and filmed correspondence between the pair. To follow, Mania and Douglas will be in conversation with the film critic Peter Bradshaw.

Barbican Archive Mixtape
Sat 15 June 3 pm, Cinema 1

In celebration of the Barbican Estate’s 50th anniversary, the Barbican Archive Mixtape tells the story of the Barbican “on screen”, in a cut-and-paste journey through rare archive television, film and artists moving image.

Unsettling (15*) + ScreenTalk with director Iris Zaki
Israel/ UK 2018 Iris Zaki 70 min
Mon 17th Jun 6.30pm, Cinema 2

An innovative documentary draws out the insights of a West Bank Jewish Settler’s community on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With its creator, Grierson Award Winner, Iris Zaki, in conversation.

Science on Screen: AlphaGo # + presentation by Thore Graepel
Life Rewired
USA 2017, Dir Greg Kohs, 90 min
Tue 18 Jun 6.20pm, Cinema 2

In 2016, the worlds of the ancient Chinese game of ‘Go’ and artificial intelligence collided in South Korea, as a legendary Go master took on an AI challenger. Thore Graepel presents the inside story.

This coincides with AI: More Than Human, a major new Barbican exhibition (16 May – 26 Aug 2019) offering an unprecedented survey of creative and scientific developments in Artificial Intelligence; these are both are part of Life Rewired, a Barbican cross-arts season exploring what it means to be human when technology is changing everything.

Also Screening at the Barbican:
 
The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival: Film, Power & Politics
21-25 Jun, Cinema 2 & 3

Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival returns to Barbican to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a collection of highly topical films exploring the rapidly changing politics of South Asia.

Highlights include Vivek (India 2018, Dir Anand Patwardhan) a hard-hitting political documentary which exposes the shockingly deep fissures in a rapidly changing Indian society, Saturday Afternoon (Bangladesh/Germany/Russia/India 2019, Dir Mostofa Sarwar Farooki) a thought provoking and powerful political drama about the Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack in Dhaka; and #GADHVI (India 2018. Dir Gaurav Bakshi), a funny political and social satire about how we build up our heroes and the perils of social media fame.

For more information: www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Event Cinema

RSC Live: The Taming of the Shrew (12A)
Wed 5 Jun 7pm, Cinema 3

Justin Audibert (Snow in Midsummer) turns Shakespeare’s fierce, energetic comedy of gender and materialism on its head to offer a fresh perspective on its portrayal of hierarchy and power.

Afternoon Arts: Australian Ballet: Spartacus (PG)
Thu 6 Jun 2pm, Cinema 2

Charting the journey of a man finding passionate love, his mission and freedom, the ballet showcases the company at their spirited and athletic best.

Royal Opera House Live: Romeo and Juliet (12A)
Tue 11 Jun 7.15pm, Cinema 2

Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan’s 20th-century ballet masterpiece.
NT Encore: All About Eve (12A)
Sun 16 Jun 3.30pm, Cinema 3

Ivo van Hove’s staging of the classic Hollywood tale sees Gillian Anderson star as Margo Channing with Lily James as golden girl Eve.

Afternoon Arts: Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh and Japan #
Thu 20 Jun 2pm, Cinema 2

This film explores the importance of Van Gogh’s study of Japan to the painter’s work, revealing how the remarkable heritage affected him and made him the artist we know of today.

Live from Shakespeare’s Globe: The Merry Wives of Windsor 12A
Thu 20 Jun 7.20pm, Cinema 2
Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford.

NT Live: Small Island (12A)
Thu 27 Jun 7pm, Cinema 3
Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel Small Island comes to life in an epic new theatre adaptation, following the journey from Jamaica to Britain, through the Second World War to 1948.

Glyndebourne: Cinderella #
Sun 30 Jun 5.30pm, Cinema 3
A brand new production which takes the classic Cinderella story through the lens of composer Massenet’s sensuous and lavish score.
Glyndebourne favourite and international star Danielle de Niese plays the titular role in this glittering and colourful opera.

New Releases:

Gloria Bell (15)
USA/ Chile 2018, Dir Sebastián Lelio, 102 min
From Fri 7 Jun
Julianne Moore stars in Sebastián Lelio’s English-language remake of his brilliant Gloria, the story of a middle aged divorcee living her best life on the dancefloor.

Late Night #
From Fri 7 Jun
USA 2019, Dir Nisha Ganatra, 102 min
Emma Thompson stars as a legendary late-night talk show host whose world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer (Mindy Kaling).

Tell It to the Bees #
UK 2019, Dir Annabel Jankel, 106 min
From Fri 14 Jun
Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger star in a story of hidden love. Jean (Paquin) returns to her home town to take over her late father’s medical practice, and leads her into Lydia’s (Grainger) life.

We the Animals #
USA 2018, Dir Jeremiah Zagar, 93 min
From Fri 21 Jun
In Jeremiah Zagar’s debut, three boys tear through their childhood in the midst of their young parents’ volatile love that makes and unmakes the family many times over.

Toy Story 4 #
USA 2019, Dir Josh Cooley, 89 min
From Fri 21 Jun
Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the gang are back for the next instalment of the Pixar’s immensely popular chronicles of the secret life of toys.

Yesterday #
UK 2019, Dir Danny Boyle, 87 min
From Fri 28 Jun
Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis team up for a sure-fire summer hit. Jack wakes up to discover no one has ever heard of the Beatles, leading to his own rise to superstardom.


FAMILIES
Barbican Family Film Club
Every Saturday 11am, Cinema 2

In June Family Film Club will be complementing the Beasts of London exhibition being held in the Museum of London and screens a selection of films where animals run wild on urban adventures. And as an added extra – every film this month will have an exciting Show and Tell introduction inspired by the themes, topics or film-making processes. Part of Play the Mile.

101 Dalmatians (U) + Show and Tell with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Sat 1 Jun 11am, Cinema 2

Adapted from the novel by Dodie Smith, this charming animated Disney is a dog-lover’s delight. And before the film, a special guest from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will be talking about the work they do in animal welfare.
US 1961 Dirs. Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske & Wolfgang Reitherman, 79min

Ratatouille (PG) + Show and Tell with Joe Sharpe and Zoë  Bather, authors of Around the World with the Ingreedies – A Taste Adventure
Sat 8 June 11am, Cinema 2

Remy is no ordinary rat – he longs to cook and ends up living his dreams in the kitchen of a Parisian restaurant. This five-star Pixar is a mouth-watering big screen treat - and before the film Joe and Zoë will be explaining how much there is to learn about the world through food.
US 2007 Dir. Brad Bird, 101min

A Monster in Paris (U) + Show and Tell with Dr Amoret P Whitaker
Sat 15 Jun 11am, Cinema 2

Set during the 1910 Great Flood of Paris, besties Emille and Raoul run afoul of some science equipment and accidentally transform an innocent flea into a seven-foot monster with a beautiful singing voice! A zany musical adventure, with a fabulous animated Paris backdrop and featuring the voice of Vanessa Paradis. Prior to the screening, Dr Whitaker – a flea expert and forensic entomologist – will be sharing facts about fleas and their special characteristics.
France 2011 Dir. Bibo Bergeron 90min. Dubbed.

Paddington (PG) + Show and Tell with Framestore
Sat 22 June 11am, Cinema 2

Paddington Bear arrives from the rainforest of deepest, darkest, Peru to the urban jungle of London, where he is taken in by The Browns. Barbican Cinema is pleased to welcome a member of the team from Framestore – the company behind creating all of the film’s VFX – and they’ll be revealing how they created everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear for the big screen.
UK 2014 Dir. Paul King 95min

Sat 29 June, Free Workshop
10am, Cinema 2&3 Foyer

A paper puppet workshop inspired by The Princess and the Frog, which will be led by artist Ivonne Vargas. Open to all children with their families; free.

The Princess and the Frog (U) + Show and Tell with Kim Le Breuilly of the British Herpetological Society
11am, Cinema 2

This twist on the Frog Prince fairy tale sees the heroine Tiana, transformed by an enchanted prince. Featuring toe-tapping tunes from Oscar winner Randy Newman and luscious hand drawn animation. And there will also be the chance to get some froggy-facts before the film from specialist Kim Le Brueilly.  
US 2009 Dirs. Ron Clements and John Musker 97min

Parent and Baby Screenings
Specially tailored screenings of the best new films every Monday and Saturday mornings for parents and carers with babies of twelve months and under.
For more information please go to: www.barbican.org.uk/parentandbaby.