Lingui, The Sacred Bonds15

Directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun | Chad | 2021 | 1h 28m | French w/ English subtitles | Starring Achouackh Abakar Souleymane, Rihane Khalil Alio, Youssouf Djaoro, Briya Gomdigue

In a small village in Chad, determined single mother Amina works tirelessly to provide for her 15-year old daughter Maria. However, their lives are thrown in disarray when Amina discovers that Maria is pregnant and does not want to have a child. This beautifully shot and fiercely feminist drama explores the strength of bonds between women in a male-dominated society.

Reviews

‘Breathtaking visuals and deeply moving story and performances. One of the best films of the year – astonishingly realised and lingers with you long after.’
★★★★★
Rogan Graham, Little White Lies

‘Fierce stabs of sexuality and violence cut through the stoic calm of Chadian film-maker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s urgent drama of survival’
★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Lingui, The Sacred Bonds between February 26, 2022 and March 3, 2022.

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What else is on?

Today (Monday 15th December)

17:30

Pillion 18
Descriptive Subtitles
1h 47m
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20:00

CUTS: Secret Santa 18
Will you get what you want for CUTSMAS? Join CUTS (Cinema Under The Stairs) for their annual festive knees-up filled with mulled wine, popcorn, prizes, and a mystery Christmas classic movie selected by the audience! Ticket cost £10, book and vote today!

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Tomorrow (Tuesday 16th December)

18:00

Kalamita (Calamity) 15
£6 for Members
1h 41m | Czech w/ English subtitles
A drifting student becomes a train conductor and the object of multiple affections in Věra Chytilová’s witty, subversive satire. Beneath the playful humour lies a sharp critique of Czechoslovakia’s bureaucratic absurdities.

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20:15

Alpha 18
£6 for members
2h 8m | French w/ English subtitles
Rebellious Alpha clashes with her doctor mother amid fears she’s infected by a terrifying blood-borne disease turning victims to marble. Julia Ducournau fuses body horror with emotional intensity, creating a visceral coming-of-age tale about identity, love, and fragile family bonds.

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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!