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?

Tomorrow (Monday 7th July)

17:45

Slade In Flame 12A
1h 30m
At the height of glam rock, Slade confounded fans with this gritty, cynical tale of a band undone by fame. Newly restored by the BFI, this cult classic rips into the music industry with raw power and electric swagger.

Book here

20:00

The Handmaiden 18
2h 25m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Park Chan-wook’s lush erotic thriller dazzles with deception, desire and double-crosses. Set in 1930s Korea and based on Fingersmith, this modern classic is a masterwork of suspense and sensuality. A bold reimagining of the period drama.

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Tuesday 8th July

18:15

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life 15
£6 for Members
1h 38m | French w/ English subtitles
A struggling writer lands a spot at a Jane Austen residency, and falls into a romantic mess worthy of Austen herself. Set between Paris and the English countryside, this smart rom-com brims with charm and literary wit.

Book here

20:30

Tornado 15
£6 for Members
1h 31m
In 18th-century Britain, a puppeteer’s daughter seeks vengeance after a brutal robbery. Armed with samurai skills and stolen gold, she battles a gang of ruthless criminals in this stylish, blood-soaked thriller from Slow West director John Maclean.

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!