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

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 6th December)

15:30

Fiume o morte! 18
1h 52m | Croatian & Italian w/ English subtitles
Igor Bezinović revisits D’Annunzio’s 1919 ultranationalist occupation of Fiume, blending archival footage, reenactments, and interviews. This inventive documentary interrogates memory, myth-making, and lingering fascist shadows. Winner of Rotterdam’s Tiger Award and Croatia’s Oscar submission.

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18:00

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

Book here

20:30

The Running Man 15
2h 13m
In a brutal, televised bloodsport, fugitives are hunted by elite killers for nationwide entertainment. To save his dying daughter, Ben enters the arena, and becomes an electrifying symbol of rebellion. Edgar Wright unleashes pulse-pounding action as Glen Powell explodes in Stephen King’s fiercely dystopian thrill ride.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 7th December)

14:00

The Great Beauty 15
Music at Oxford screening
2h 21m | Italian w/ English subtitles
An aging journalist drifts through Rome’s decadent elite, confronting mortality and lost love after tragic news. Paolo Sorrentino’s lush, Fellini-esque masterpiece dazzles with sensuous imagery, a sublime score, and Toni Servillo’s enthralling performance. Winner of Best International Feature at the 2014 Oscars.

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17:00

The Thing with Feathers 15
1h 44m
A grieving father’s reality fractures after his wife’s sudden death, and finds himself haunted by a giant talking crow. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a riveting performance in this lyrical, surreal adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning novel exploring love and grief.

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19:30

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

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!