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Record of War (15)

Cinema Restored

,Cinema 1

A unique dovetailing of two films charting the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935–6 from radically opposed viewpoints. 

In this special performance, marking 90 years since the invasion, our projectionists present a live montage from the Fascist Italian Path of the Heroes, and the Soviet Russian film Abyssinia, conjuring a unique third film that only exists for the duration of the programme: Record of War.

One shows what the other conceals; one is full of Futurist bombast while the other shows those on the receiving end of Mussolini’s war machine. Record of War is a form of counter-propaganda, as relevant now as it ever was.

Record of War was first conceived and staged by Gaslight director Thorold Dickinson in December 1937 at London’s storied Film Society, which celebrates its centenary this year. “Our fashionable Sunday audience, with their broad brims and capes and a capacity for chatter drifted out into Regent Street in dead, awed silence,” he wrote. 

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Films:

Il Cammino Degli Eroi Italy, 1936, Dir. Corrado D'Errico

Abyssinia Soviet Union, 1936, Dir. Vladimir Yeshurin & Boris Zeitlin

 

Content Warning: please note this programme contains footage of severe violence and war injuries. 

With thanks to Henry K. Miller and Brighid Lowe.

Film information
  • Release year  
  • Country  
  • Director  
  • Runtime   2hr 10min (approx)

How does the telling of history affect how we remember it?

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk 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.