SamsaraU

Directed by Lois Patiño | Spain | 2023 | 1h 54m | Lao & Swahili w/ English subtitles | Starring Amid Keomany, Toumor Xiong, Simone Milavanh, Mariam Vuaa Mtego, Juwairiya Idrisa Uwesu

Amidst the Buddhist temples of Laos, a young man reads a sacred text to a dying woman. This text serves as a guide for finding one’s way through the afterlife. When the woman passes away, her spirit moves toward reincarnation in its next body. Experimental filmmaker Lois Patiño takes us on an immersive and sensory journey across continents via the cosmos in this meditative and transcendent examination of life after death.

Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival.

Warning: this film contains flickering or flashing lights that may affect those with photosensitive epilepsy.

Reviews

‘Transcendent and transformative…its feels like new cinematic ground is being broken before our eyes, and the impact is exponentially increased if experienced with people in the dark of the cinema’
★★★★★
David Jenkins, Little White Lies

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Samsara between February 16, 2024 and February 22, 2024.

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

What else is on?

Today (Friday 4th July)

16:00

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life 15
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

18:15

Tornado 15
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

20:30

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


Tomorrow (Saturday 5th July)

15:30

The Last Journey PG
1h 35m | Swedish w/ English subtitles
Filip Hammar takes his father on one final road trip across France, retracing childhood holidays. Both funny and moving, this warm-hearted documentary explores memory, mortality, and the evolving bond between father and son.

Book here

17:45

The Handmaiden 18
+ Intro
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.

Book here

20:45

Tornado 15
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!