Ran15

Directed by Akira Kurosawa | Japan | 1985 | 2h 41m | Japanese w/ English subtitles | Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû, Mieko Harada

Warlord Hidetora Ichimonji decides to step down, dividing his kingdom among his three sons. But instead of peace, his decision unleashes a storm of greed, betrayal, and violence that tears his family and legacy apart. Legendary director Akira Kurosawa reimagines Shakespeare’s King Lear as a sweeping historical epic set in sixteenth-century Japan. Back in cinemas for its 40th anniversary, this late-career masterpiece is a visually breathtaking meditation on the brutality of war and the tragic collapse of a family consumed by ambition and power.

Classic Season: Samurai Summer

Reviews

‘A magisterial achievement.’
★★★★★
Jonathan Romney, The Observer

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We showed Ran between August 3, 2025 and August 7, 2025.

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Today (Tuesday 27th October)
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17:30

The Lost Children of Tuam 12A
£6 for Members
1h 24m
Amateur historian Catherine Corless investigates a former home for unmarried mothers and their children in rural Ireland, and won't stop, even when it pits her against Church, State and town. Monica Dolan stars in this gripping true story.

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19:45

Hope 15
£6 for Members
2h 37m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Police investigate a mysterious creature terrorising the South Korean village of Hope Harbor. Cut off and without backup, it's down to hunters, hapless cops and locals to stop it. A thrilling sci-fi creature-feature from Na Hong-jin (The Wailing).

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 28th October)
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15:00

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast Of Mo U
1h 20m
Just before Halloween, the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch. Shaun's science experiments to fix it go wrong when a wild beast appears in the woods. Shaun the Sheep returns in a monstrously fun family adventure as Aardman turns 50.

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17:15

The Lost Children of Tuam 12A
Descriptive Subtitles
1h 24m
Amateur historian Catherine Corless investigates a former home for unmarried mothers and their children in rural Ireland, and won't stop, even when it pits her against Church, State and town. Monica Dolan stars in this gripping true story.

Book here

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20:30

Possession 18
2h 7m
Her-steria Horror Classics
Anna (Isabelle Adjani) leaves her family without explanation. Her husband (Sam Neill) hunts for the truth, uncovering something far stranger than an affair. Andrzej Żuławski's psychological horror won Adjani the best actress award at Cannes and became a cult classic.

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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!

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