In 1980s Los Angeles, a suburban housewife develops a debilitating illness. When doctors cannot provide a clear diagnosis, she begins to believe she suffers from severe environmental allergies. Directed by Todd Haynes (Carol), Safe is a quietly disturbing film that can be read in many ways: as a critique of self-help culture, a metaphor for the AIDS crisis, a drama about class and social isolation, and even a form of horror about the invisible dangers that surround us.

Join us for a special screening of Safe, with a pre-screening talk led by Professor Patricia Kingori (curator of April Fakes Day) and Professor Caitjan Gainty (Kings College London) who has worked extensively on the history of medical therapeutics and alternative & complementary therapies. All tickets cost £6.00 each. 

Reviews

‘Beautifully constructed, chilling internal nightmare where every scene plays out like a little mini movie in and of itself. Brilliant.’
★★★★
Rob Fraser, Empire Magazine

‘Todd Haynes’ enviro-disease masterpiece Safe might just be the most terrifying film of the last decade.’
Sal Cinquemani, Slate Magazine

April Fakes Day is led by Professor Patricia Kingori at Oxford Population Health’s Ethox Centre at the University of Oxford, as an opportunity to engage with the complexities of fakery and its role in shaping our understanding of reality. This year’s April Fakes Day focuses on questioning ideas of fakery in science. Institutions around the UK will spotlight fakes in science and pseudo-science, engaging with collections, research and the stories we tell to celebrate curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.