Anyone Can Play Guitar + Director Q&A12A

Directed by Jon Spira | UK | 2010 | 1h 40m

It’s funny how certain music scenes have become legendary. Merseybeat in the 60’s, London’s summer of punk in the 70’s, Sheffield’s Electro 80’s and Manchester’s ‘Baggy’ 90’s. When you break them down, they’re just a small handful of bands making very similar music during a very short but high-profile period. When people talk about regional music scenes, they never talk about Oxford. Yet Oxford’s tight music community has been steadily producing genre-defining bands of the highest quality and integrity for pushing 30 years.

Narrated by Stewart Lee and featuring exclusive interviews with Radiohead, Foals, Supergrass, Ride and Swervedriver, Anyone Can Play Guitar tells the unheard stories of some of the greatest bands (and the greatest stories of some of the unheard bands) as the backdrop to a truly unique and epic saga of success, failure, good intentions, and bad outcomes. From the DIY spirit of the early 80’s right through to the controversial corporatisation of Oxford’s best-loved venue, the film tracks three decades of highs and lows in a punchy, engaging documentary.

Screening followed by a conversation between director Jon Spira and Dave Gilyeat (BBC Radio Oxford). The Ultimate Picture Palace presents in partnership with the Museum of Oxford as part of the Sounds of the City exhibition & project (https://museumofoxford.org/whats-on/special-exhibitions/)

Book tickets

Saturday 24 October

5.30pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Saturday 17th October)

15:30

Better Go Mad in the Wild 15
1h 24m | Czech w/ English subtitles
Two ageing brothers live as hermits in a crumbling farmhouse near the Czech-German border, arguing, making up, and singing ballads to chickens. Narrated by a slaughtered bull, Miro Remo's award-winning film is a funny, tender portrait of seclusion and brotherhood.

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17:45

Extra Geography 15
1h 34m
In their final year at an early-2000s boarding school, two best friends set themselves a mission: to fall in love with their geography teacher. Molly Manners' freewheeling comedy drama is a funny, warm-hearted portrait of female friendship.

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20:00

Queen at Sea 15
2h 1m
Amanda walks in on her mother Leslie and stepfather Martin in an intimate moment. It seems consensual, but Leslie has advanced dementia. Lance Hammer's follow-up to Ballast stars Juliette Binoche and Tom Courtenay. Berlin Silver Bear Jury Prize winner.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 18th October)

12:30

Hotel Transylvania U
Kino Kids Cinema Club
1h 31m
Dracula’s monster-only hotel is turned upside down when an ordinary human stumbles into his daughter’s birthday party. A hilarious, spooky adventure packed with monsters, mayhem and family fun. Kino Kids Cinema Club tickets cost £7 Adults and £5 Children.

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14:45

Lady in a Cage 15
1h 31m
A power failure traps wealthy widow Cornelia Hilyard in her mansion's cage-like elevator, leaving her powerless as young thugs break in to rob and terrorise her. Olivia de Havilland and James Caan star in this tough, unusual 1960s thriller.

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17:00

EN Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty Cert-TBC
2h 40m (inc. 10min interval)
Cursed to die on her sixteenth birthday, Princess Aurora is saved by a spell that puts her to sleep for a hundred years instead. Sir Kenneth MacMillan's ballet, filmed live at the Royal Albert Hall for a one-off screening.

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20:15

Extra Geography 15
1h 34m
In their final year at an early-2000s boarding school, two best friends set themselves a mission: to fall in love with their geography teacher. Molly Manners' freewheeling comedy drama is a funny, warm-hearted portrait of female friendship.

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!