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 (Sunday 20th September)

12:00

The NeverEnding Story U
Kino Kids Cinema Club
1h 34m
A magical book transports a young boy to the fantastical world of Fantasia, where brave warrior Atreyu and luck dragon Falkor must save it from a mysterious force known as The Nothing. Kino Kids Cinema Club tickets cost £7 Adults and £5 Children.

Book here

14:30

Bad Education 15
1h 46m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
When a filmmaker’s childhood friend returns with a story about abuse at their Catholic school, buried memories resurface. Almodóvar’s provocative blend of noir, melodrama and film-within-a-film explores trauma, identity, guilt and memory.

Book here

17:00

De Gaulle: Résistance 15
2h 38m | French w/ English subtitles
June 1940: France has fallen. Army general Charles de Gaulle refuses to accept defeat, fleeing to London to rally resistance. Simon Russell Beale plays Churchill in this internationally cast first chapter of Antonin Baudry's two-part historical epic. x§

Book here

20:30

Carnival of Souls 15
1h 18m
A young woman survives a drag race accident, then finds herself drawn to an abandoned lakeside pavilion by a ghostly figure she can't explain. Herk Harvey's eerie 1962 B-movie, made on a shoestring budget, became a cult classic beloved by generations of horror fans.

Book here


Tomorrow (Monday 21st September)

20:30

Bad Education 15
1h 46m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
When a filmmaker’s childhood friend returns with a story about abuse at their Catholic school, buried memories resurface. Almodóvar’s provocative blend of noir, melodrama and film-within-a-film explores trauma, identity, guilt and memory.

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!