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Recreations: Three Films on Children’s Play

Francis Alÿs: Ricochets

,Cinema 2
Two children eat biscuits on a street in an old photography from mid-20th Century.

A trio of films on childhood which form a dialogue with the documentary project Children’s Games, curated in response to our Francis Alÿs: Ricochets exhibition.

These films show different glimpses of childhood, from three distinct points of time and place. Forming a dialogue with Children’s Games (1999-present), which is an ongoing project documenting children at play around the world.

We begin in the streets of Tehran with The Bread and the Alley by the great Abbas Kiarostami. The image of the child has played a recurring role across his career, and in his debut work we follow a young boy wandering home who encounters a growling dog. 

We then travel back in time to the mid sixties and a wintery Amsterdam, in Beppie, in a classic of observational film by the celebrated Dutch documentary filmmaker Johan van der Keuken. The final film takes us into a school in Paris, in esteemed director Claire Simon's portrait of her daughter and her environment, in Récréations, and captures games.

Tagged with: Cinema Francis Alÿs

Programme

The Bread and the Alley

Dir Abbas Kiarostami, Iran, 1970, 11 mins

Kiarostami's cinematic debut, this film follows a young boy navigating his way home through an alley, only to encounter a barking dog obstructing his path.

 

Beppie 

Dir Johan can der Keuken, Netherlands, 1965, 38 mins

An emotionally resonant and affectionate portrayal of Beppie, the girl who resides next door to Johan van der Keuken in Amsterdam.

 

Récréations

Dir Claire Simon, France, 1998, 54 mins

In this documentary, Claire Simon immerses herself in the poignant and sometimes humorous dynamics of a schoolyard. Through the lens of children's games, she exposes the myriad of challenges and traumas associated with navigating the complexities of social interaction.
 

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.