Maona presents: Mapantsula15

Directed by Oliver Schmitz | South Africa | 1988 | 1h 43m | Zulu w/ English subtitles | Starring Thomas Mogotlane, Thembi Mtshali, Peter Sephuma, Marcel Van Heerden, Eugene Majola

A small-time hustler navigating the streets of Soweto finds himself entangled in anti-apartheid protests. When singled out by the local police, he faces a pivotal decision: prioritise personal gain or join the movement against racism. A quintessential example of guerrilla filmmaking, Oliver Schmitz’s 1988 cult-classic crime drama has finally emerged in stunning 4K resolution after years of suppression. Screenings marking the 30th anniversary of South African Freedom.

These screenings will be introduced by Dr Robert Freeman. Robert is a lecturer in English, and affiliate of New College, Oxford. He writes on African film, literary value, and the history of cultural institutions.

Reviews

‘The film starts as a racy gangster melodrama with an unusually pungent low-life city background, then builds inexorably to a moral reckoning, a ferocious, unforgettable denouement.’
Michael Wilmington, The LA Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Maona presents: Mapantsula between May 21, 2024 and May 22, 2024.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Tomorrow (Monday 27th July)

18:15

R.E.M x Sherlock Jr 12A
+ Introduction
1h 13m
From the team behind Silents Synced, Buster Keaton's dreamlike 1924 masterpiece gets an electrifying makeover, scored to R.E.M.'s Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi. Part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026.

Book here

20:15

The Invite 15
1h 47m
Joe and Angela's shaky marriage faces its biggest test yet when dinner with their enigmatic upstairs neighbours takes a wild turn. Rashida Jones's razor-sharp script and Olivia Wilde's direction fuel this riotous relationship comedy, with Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton on scene-stealing form.

Book here


Tuesday 28th July

17:45

The Furious 18
£6 for Members
1h 53m | English + some Mandarin & Tagalog w/ English subtitles
When his daughter is kidnapped and police turn their backs, Wang Wei goes rogue, joined by Navin, a journalist whose wife has vanished too. Fuelled by rage, the two men wage explosive war on the kidnappers in this high-octane Hong Kong martial arts thriller.

Book here

20:30

Rains Over Babel Uncertified 18+
£6 for Members / + Director Q&A
1h 51m
Enter a trópico-punk universe where life, death, desire, and fantasy come together in Babel, a mysterious bar-purgatory inhabited by lost souls, fantastic creatures, and unforgettable characters. Screening plus Director Q&A hosted by ZonaSur Cinema Club.

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!