On Becoming a Guinea Fowl12A

Directed by Rungano Nyoni | Zambia | 2024 | 1h 40m | Bemba w/ English subtitles | Starring Susan Chardy, Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Chungu Bwalya, Maggie Mulubwa

Late one night, on an empty road, Shula discovers the body of her uncle. As funeral preparations unfold, she and her cousins unearth long-buried family secrets. Rungano Nyoni’s follow-up to her BAFTA-winning debut I Am Not a Witch is a gripping and evocative exploration of tradition, abuse, and resilience within a middle-class Zambian family.

Reviews

‘Nyoni weaves allegory with realism in a manner that nods to her Zambian and Welsh heritage, both possessing a rich folklore history.’
★★★★
Hannah Strong, Little White Lies

‘Writer-director Rungano Nyoni has a wonderful way of drawing you into a world and intriguing you from the start, gradually peeling back the layers of enigmatic characters to explore Zambian culture.’
★★★★
Anna Smith, Time Out

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed On Becoming a Guinea Fowl between December 27, 2024 and January 2, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Friday 16th January)

14:45

Marty Supreme 15
2h 30m
1950s New Yorker Marty Mauser dreams of becoming a table tennis legend while juggling ambition, love, and personal turmoil. Timothée Chalamet shines in Josh Safdie’s (Uncut Gems) electrifying tale of fame, obsession, and the intoxicating lure of the American Dream.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 17th January)

15:00

The Mother U
1hr (inc. Q&A)
This short film combines singer-activist Peggy Seeger’s ecological song The Mother with the campaign to protect Iffley’s ancient meadow, showing how music, community action, and storytelling can inspire change. Followed by a Q&A with Peggy and the filmmakers.

Book here

17:00

Marty Supreme 15
2h 30m
1950s New Yorker Marty Mauser dreams of becoming a table tennis legend while juggling ambition, love, and personal turmoil. Timothée Chalamet shines in Josh Safdie’s (Uncut Gems) electrifying tale of fame, obsession, and the intoxicating lure of the American Dream.

Book here

20:15

Sentimental Value 15
2h 13m | Norwegian w/ English subtitles
Actress Nora confronts her estranged father, a famed director preparing a comeback, and reconnects with her sister. Old tensions and new ambitions collide, forcing them to face their past. Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning star in Joachim Trier’s (The Worst Person in the World) emotionally rich story of reconciliation.

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!