On Becoming a Guinea Fowl12A

Directed by Rungano Nyoni | Zambia | 2024 | 1h 40m | Bemba w/ English subtitles | Starring Susan Chardy, Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Chungu Bwalya, Maggie Mulubwa

Late one night, on an empty road, Shula discovers the body of her uncle. As funeral preparations unfold, she and her cousins unearth long-buried family secrets. Rungano Nyoni’s follow-up to her BAFTA-winning debut I Am Not a Witch is a gripping and evocative exploration of tradition, abuse, and resilience within a middle-class Zambian family.

Reviews

‘Nyoni weaves allegory with realism in a manner that nods to her Zambian and Welsh heritage, both possessing a rich folklore history.’
★★★★
Hannah Strong, Little White Lies

‘Writer-director Rungano Nyoni has a wonderful way of drawing you into a world and intriguing you from the start, gradually peeling back the layers of enigmatic characters to explore Zambian culture.’
★★★★
Anna Smith, Time Out

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed On Becoming a Guinea Fowl between December 27, 2024 and January 2, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Thursday 8th January)

18:00

It Was Just an Accident 12A
1h 44m | Persian w/ English subtitles
Azerbaijani mechanic Vahid suspects a customer is his former Iranian torturer. After years of censorship and a recent spell in jail, celebrated Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi returns with a thrilling tale of obsession, paranoia, and vengeance. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

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20:30

Wicked: For Good PG
2h 17m
Elphaba, now feared as the Wicked Witch, lives in isolation while Glinda enjoys fame in Emerald City. As a hostile mob rises, the estranged friends reunite to reshape Oz’s destiny. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return for the thrilling finale to this Broadway musical adaptation.

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Tomorrow (Friday 9th January)

15:30

Eleanor the Great 12A
Descriptive Subtitles
1h 38m
After losing her closest friend, 94-year-old Eleanor moves to New York, seeking connection with her daughter. Accidentally joining the wrong support group, she reveals more than she bargained for, sparking unexpected friendships. Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a tender portrait of family and grief.

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18:00

Lurker 15
1h 41m
Isolated retail clerk Matthew infiltrates pop star Oliver’s glamorous inner circle but quickly discovers the ruthless social dynamics behind fame. Alex Russell’s directorial debut is a tense psychological thriller for the social media era, where obsession and ambition collide.

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20:30

Sentimental Value 15
2h 13m | Norwegian w/ English subtitles
Actress Nora confronts her estranged father, a famed director preparing a comeback, and reconnects with her sister. Old tensions and new ambitions collide, forcing them to face their past. Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning star in Joachim Trier’s (The Worst Person in the World) emotionally rich story of reconciliation.

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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!