IkiruPG

Directed by Akira Kurosawa | Japan | 1952 | 2h 23m | Japanese w/ English subtitles | Starring Takashi Shimura, Miki Odagiri, Nobuo Kaneko, Shin'ichi Himori, Haruo Tanaka

The mundane life of a middle-aged bureaucrat is turned upside down when he discovers that he has a terminal illness. After reflecting on the meaning of his life, he becomes obsessed with pursuing the construction of a children’s playground in a nearby neglected neighbourhood. One of the greatest achievements by master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, Ikiru is celebrated for its deep exploration of existential themes and its compassionate portrayal of one man’s quest for meaning in the face of mortality.

Our screening on Sunday 15th October will be introduced by Tom Jowett, Head of Programming, The Ultimate Picture Palace.

Reviews

‘Such is the delicacy of Kurosawa’s direction, and the discreet power of Takashi Shimura’s central performance, that you will be moved to tears.’
★★★★★
Adrian Turner, Radio Times

‘The narrative is carefully paced, the central performance magnificent, the final effect overwhelming in a manner that recalls the great Russian writers Kurosawa admired.’
Philip French, The Observer

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Ikiru between October 15, 2023 and October 16, 2023.

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What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 14th January)

17:30

Queer 18
Subtitled / £6 for Members
2h 17m
Daniel Craig stars as an American expatriate living a quiet life in 1960s Mexico, until a young student’s arrival turns his world upside down. Luca Guadagnino directs this sensual adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ cult novel.

Book here

20:30

Grand Theft Hamlet 15
£6 for Members
1h 31m
During the COVID lockdown, two unemployed actors, frustrated by theatre closures, staged Hamlet in the online world of Grand Theft Auto. This unique documentary captures their effort with unexpectedly moving results.

Book here


Tomorrow (Wednesday 15th January)

15:15

How to Make Millions Before Gran 12A
2h 6m | Thai w/ English subtitles
Driven by the promise of a multimillion-dollar inheritance, a young college dropout becomes the caretaker for his terminally ill grandmother. A moving intergenerational drama that became a box office sensation in Southeast Asia.

Book here

18:00

The Order 15
1h 56m
A wave of bombings and bank robberies pulls a seasoned FBI agent (Jude Law) into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a domestic terrorist group in this gripping 1980s-set crime thriller inspired by true events.

Book here

20:30

Queer 18
2h 17m
Daniel Craig stars as an American expatriate living a quiet life in 1960s Mexico, until a young student’s arrival turns his world upside down. Luca Guadagnino directs this sensual adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ cult novel.

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!