You Will Die at Twenty12A

Directed by Amjad Abu Alala | Sudan | 2019 | 1h 42m | Arabic w/ English subtitles | Starring Mustafa Shehata, Islam Mubarak, Bonna Khalid

A young man growing up in a small Sudanese village is haunted by a holy man’s prediction that he will die when he turns twenty. Dubbed ‘the son of death’ and bullied by local children, he finds himself torn between a desire to live and accepting his fate. Amjad Abu Alala’s striking coming-of-age debut’s won the Lion of the Future Award at 2019’s Venice Film Festival and is Sudan’s first-ever submission to the Oscars.

Reviews

‘The film is a parable about the dangers of blind faith in religion and authority, but it’s also warmly compassionate and accepting of human nature.’
★★★★
Cath Clarke, The Guardian

‘Spirited and philosophical…Its quiet profundity strikes you hours, days after viewing.’
★★★★
David Jenkins, Little White Lies

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed You Will Die at Twenty between December 11, 2021 and December 19, 2021.

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What else is on?

Today (Wednesday 27th May)

15:30

The Magic Faraway Tree U
1h 50m
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Book here

18:00

The Barnabáš Kos Case 12A
1h 32m | Slovak w/ English subtitles
A timid triangle player is unexpectedly promoted to Musical Director, but soon becomes corrupted by power. Peter Solan’s darkly comic satire exposes absurd hierarchies, sharply skewering state bureaucracy and the fragile egos behind positions of authority.

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20:15

Rose of Nevada 15
1h 54m
When a long-lost fishing boat returns to a Cornish village, hope rises for renewal. Nick and newcomer Liam join a voyage, but return transformed and caught in a haunting time loop. Shot on grainy 16mm, Mark Jenkin (Bait) delivers a haunting, mind-bending folktale.

Book here


Tomorrow (Thursday 28th May)

12:30

The Magic Faraway Tree U
Parent + Baby Screening
1h 50m
The Thompson children discover a magical tree leading to fantastical lands. Facing quirky inhabitants and wondrous adventures, they reconnect and grow closer. Enid Blyton’s beloved classic comes to life in this enchanting adaptation starring Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, and Claire Foy.

Book here

15:00

The Stranger 15
2h 2m | French w/ English subtitles
Set in French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life until his mother’s death sparks judgment, conflict, and tragedy. François Ozon’s sensitive, queer-inflected adaptation illuminates the emotional and moral complexities at the heart of Albert Camus’s existential masterpiece.

Book here

17:45

Frida Kahlo 12A
1h 41m
This documentary explores Frida Kahlo’s life and art, from her iconic self-portraits to the passion and pain that shaped her work. Featuring exhibition footage, expert insight and her own letters, it offers an intimate portrait of the revolutionary Mexican artist.

Book here

20:15

The Barnabáš Kos Case 12A
+ Intro w/ Peter Strickland
1h 32m | Slovak w/ English subtitles
A timid triangle player is unexpectedly promoted to Musical Director, but soon becomes corrupted by power. Peter Solan’s darkly comic satire exposes absurd hierarchies, sharply skewering state bureaucracy and the fragile egos behind positions of authority.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!