Floating Clouds12A

Directed by Mikio Naruse | Japan | 1955 | 2h 4m | Japanese w/ English subtitles | Starring Hideko Takamine, Masayuki Mori, Mariko Okada, Isao Yamagata, Chieko Nakakita

During the Second World War, a Japanese forester is sent to Indochina where he unexpectedly falls in love with a typist. When the war ends, they return to Tokyo and strive to maintain their affair despite the obstacles of society, personal ambitions, and their own insecurities. Adapted from a novel by celebrated author Fumiko Hayashi, Floating Clouds serves as a poignant depiction of Japan’s emotional turmoil in the aftermath of the war and stands as one of Mikio Naruse’s greatest cinematic achievements.

Reviews

‘Mikio Naruse slowly distances us from his lovers and their actions so that the film’s climactic progression of events hits us all the more fiercely.’ 
★★★★★
Keith Uhlich, Slant Magazine

‘Naruse’s greatness as a director–and he is the peer of Kurosawa, Ozu and Mizoguchi–comes from unobtrusive virtues. He is a master of construction, detail, editorial rhythm; of understated emotions and unsparing glimpses of life and people as they are.’ 
Michael Wilmington, LA Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Floating Clouds between November 5, 2023 and November 6, 2023.

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What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 18th March)

17:45

The Monkey 15
Deaf/HOH Subtitles
1h 35m
When two brothers discover their father’s old toy monkey in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths follows. Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) returns with another terrifying tale, this time adapting a chilling short story by Stephen King.

Book here

20:00

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État 12A
2h 30m
A hypnotic, Oscar-nominated documentary revealing how the U.S. State Department sent jazz to the Congo in the early 1960s to divert attention from a CIA-backed coup. Charity fundraiser screening for Friends of Congo.

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 19th March)

14:30

I'm Still Here 15
2h 18m | Portuguese w/ English subtitles
In 1970s Brazil, as the military dictatorship tightens its grip on the country, a mother is forced to rebuild her life after her husband is abducted by police. Powerful drama based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir and nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Book here

17:30

The Seed of the Sacred Fig 15
2h 47m | Persian w/ English subtitles
As political unrest engulfs Tehran, a newly appointed investigating judge grows increasingly paranoid of his own family. Filmed entirely in secret, Mohammad Rasoulof’s has been nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars.

Book here

21:00

The Monkey 15
1h 35m
When two brothers discover their father’s old toy monkey in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths follows. Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) returns with another terrifying tale, this time adapting a chilling short story by Stephen King.

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!