Burden Of Dreams12A

Directed by Les Blank | Germany | 1982 | 1h 35m

For nearly five years, German filmmaker Werner Herzog fought to complete Fitzcarraldo, an epic tale about one man’s quest to build an opera house in the heart of the Amazon. Herzog’s vision demanded the impossible: shooting without special effects, including a real-life sequence in which a 320-ton steamship is dragged over a mountain. Documentarian Les Blank was there to capture it all. The result is an extraordinary chronicle of obsession and endurance, offering a rare glimpse into the uncompromising mind of one of cinema’s most fearless auteurs.

Presented as a double-bill with Fitzcarraldo on Saturday 26th July. Purchase tickets to both screenings (in a single transaction) and get an automatic 30% discount on the overall cost.

4K Restoration executive produced by Harrod Blank, restoration by Anthony Matt, audio restoration by Nick Bergh, color by Paul Cope, & new subtitles by Maureen Gosling. Distributed by Violet Pictures.

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Burden Of Dreams between July 26, 2025 and July 26, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 16th May)

15:15

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.

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18:00

The Duke of Burgundy 18
+ Q&A w/ Peter Strickland
1h 44m
Lovers Cynthia and Evelyn sustain a ritualised relationship shaped by control and desire. As tensions surface, a hypnotic drama explores shifting power and intimacy through striking visuals and a haunting atmosphere. Plus a post-screening Q&A with director Peter Strickland.

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21:00

Pillion 18
1h 47m
A quiet traffic warden life radically shifts when a domineering biker draws him into an unexpected BDSM relationship. Harry Lighton’s fearless BAFTA-nominated debut blends comedy, kink, and tenderness, starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 17th May)

11:00

Robin Hood U
Kino Kids Cinema Club
1h 23m
Clever fox Robin Hood steals from the greedy Prince John to aid Nottingham’s oppressed creatures. With allies Little John and friends, he battles corruption and outsmarts his enemies, blending adventure, humour, and heart in this woodland retelling of the legend.

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16:45

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

19:30

The North 15
2h 13m | Dutch w/ English subtitles
Reuniting after a decade, friends Chris and Lluis undertake a 600km hike across the Scottish Highlands. Shot in sequence, their journey along remote trails becomes a powerful study of friendship and the emotional terrain between reconciliation and self-discovery.

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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!