El Topo18

Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky | Mexico | 1970 | 2h 5m | Spanish w/ English subtitles | Starring Alejandro Jodorowsky, Brontis Jodorowsky, José Legarreta, Alfonso Arau, Gerardo Zepeda

In the barren expanse of the desert, a mysterious gunslinger, donned in black, embarks on a transformative journey in search of enlightenment. Joined by his young son, he navigates a landscape fraught with a succession of bizarre and symbolic trials, each forcing him to confront the fundamental nature of his own existence. Visionary Chilean filmmaker, Alejandro Jodorowsky concocts a surreal acid Western using evocative imagery, profound symbolism, and philosophical storytelling.

Reviews

‘It’s tempting to say they don’t make films like this any more, but I’m not sure anyone has ever made them like Jodorowsky.’
★★★★
Ed Potton, The Times

‘It’s a bizarre head-trip festival of occult psychedelia, heatstroke visuals, Age-of-Aquarius nude dancing and violence through poster-paint fake blood splattered about the place.’
★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed El Topo between July 28, 2023 and July 31, 2023.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 14th June)

15:45

The Salt Path 12A
1h 55m
Evicted and facing illness, a couple embarks on a 630-mile walk along England’s coast. Starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, this moving adaptation of Raynor Winn’s memoir is a story of love, survival, and resilience.

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18:15

The Phoenician Scheme 15
1h 41m
When a billionaire bequeaths his empire to his nun daughter, chaos follows. Assassins, tycoons, and wild twists abound in Wes Anderson’s latest star-studded comedy caper, starring Benicio Del Toro, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Cera.

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20:30

Bound 18
1h 49m
Before The Matrix, the Wachowskis burst onto the scene with this taut, stylish noir. A sexy, subversive heist film with queer leads, Bound is now a revered cult classic – razor-sharp, fiercely confident, and decades ahead of its time.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 15th June)

12:45

Zarafa PG
1h 19m
A brave Sudanese boy befriends an orphaned giraffe. Together, they journey across deserts and seas to visit the King of France. This heartwarming animated tale celebrates courage and the power of friendship. Kino Kids Cinema Club screening, tickets £6 for adults and £4 for children.

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14:45

Dreams PG
1h 59m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
Akira Kurosawa presents eight stunning, surreal tales drawn from his own dreams and folklore. A visual feast that journeys from childhood wonder to environmental dread, it’s a poetic and personal meditation on art and memory.

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17:30

The Village Next to Paradise Cert-TBC
2h 13m | Somali w/ English subtitles
In a Somali coastal village, a father makes desperate choices to support his family, while his sister seeks freedom and his son is sent away for a better future. Mo Harawe's powerful debut about love, sacrifice, and survival showing as part of SAFAR Film Festival 2025.

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20:00

The Phoenician Scheme 15
1h 41m
When a billionaire bequeaths his empire to his nun daughter, chaos follows. Assassins, tycoons, and wild twists abound in Wes Anderson’s latest star-studded comedy caper, starring Benicio Del Toro, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Cera.

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 don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!