Kicking the Bucket Festival presents: Birth15

Directed by Jonathan Glazer | UK/USA | 2004 | 1h 40m | Starring Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall, Alison Elliott

Ten years after the sudden death of her husband, Anna is on the cusp of marrying her newfound love, ready to leave her past behind. However, on the evening of her engagement celebration, a young boy appears and claims to be the reincarnation of her deceased spouse. Jonathan Glazer’s (Sexy Beast, Under the Skin) under-appreciated metaphysical drama (co-authored with esteemed French novelist and award-winning screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière) emerges as one of the most enigmatic and captivating head-scratchers in 21st-century American film.

Reviews

‘Jonathan Glazer’s ‘Birth’ is a misunderstood masterpiece…Existing in the same curious dreamlike realm as Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, Glazer’s story is a deeply thoughtful exploration of everlasting love’
Calum Russell, Far Out Magazine

‘Birth is meant to bewilder. The chaos is thrilling, however, because the characters are so recognisably human. They behave irresponsibly. They abuse trust. But their emotional vulnerability is haunting.’
Charlotte O’Sullivan, Evening Standard

 

 

 

 

Kicking The Bucket Festival

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Kicking the Bucket Festival presents: Birth between October 12, 2023 and October 12, 2023.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 9th May)
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15:00

Citizen Kane U
Intro + 35mm Screening
1h 59m
35mm: Films On Film
When a reporter investigates Charles Foster Kane’s final word, he uncovers the rise and fall of a media tycoon. Orson Welles’ groundbreaking debut revolutionised cinema and remains a enduring landmark study of power and ambition. Presented on 35mm film.

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17:45

The Stranger 15
2h 2m | French w/ English subtitles
Set in French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life until his mother’s death sparks judgment, conflict, and tragedy. François Ozon’s sensitive, queer-inflected adaptation illuminates the emotional and moral complexities at the heart of Albert Camus’s existential masterpiece.

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20:30

The Love Witch 15
+ Intro by Peter Strickland
2h 1m
Director's Cuts: Peter Strickland
A modern witch searches for love through spells and seduction, leaving chaos in her wake. Anna Biller’s stylised homage to Technicolor cinema blends horror, humour, and sharp feminist insight, transforming romance into a dangerous fantasy of obsession and desire.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 10th May)
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15:15

The Blue Trail 15
1h 25m | Portuguese w/ English subtitles
In a near-future dystopia, government relocates older citizens to remote colonies. Defying the mandate, Tereza pursues her dream of flight, embarking on an illegal Amazon journey. Silver Bear winner Gabriel Mascaro crafts a lyrical tale of resistance, freedom, and self-determination.

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17:30

The Magnificent Ambersons U
Intro + 35mm Screening
1h 28m
35mm: Films On Film
In a prosperous Midwestern town at the turn of the century, the powerful Amberson family faces decline as the modern world closes in. Orson Welles crafts a moving - and tantalisingly incomplete - story of pride, love, and missed chances. Presented on 35mm film.

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20:00

Rebuilding PG
1h 36m
After a wildfire destroys his home, divorced father and ranch owner Dusty must plant roots. Now living in a trailer community, he rebuilds his life, reconnecting with his estranged daughter and ex-wife, anchored by Colorado’s landscapes and Josh O’Connor’s performance.

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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!

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