The Ascent12A

Directed by Larisa Shepitko | Soviet Union | 1977 | 1h 50m | Russian & German w/ English subtitles | Starring Boris Plotnikov, Vladimir Gostyukhin, Sergey Yakovlev, Lyudmila Polyakova, Viktoriya Goldentul

During World War II, two Soviet partisans embark on a desperate mission for supplies, only to face betrayal, capture, and a brutal moral reckoning. Directed by Larisa Shepitko, The Ascent is a stark and deeply spiritual war film, blending harrowing realism with allegorical weight. Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1977, it remains one of cinema’s most profound explorations of sacrifice and faith.

Bleak Week 2026: Cinema of Despair

Reviews

‘Larisa Shepitko’s final film before her untimely death at 41, The Ascent is a lyrical evocation of the costs of moral and spiritual fortitude in times of great despair.’
★★★★★ Derek Smith, Slant Magazine

Book tickets

Sunday 21 June

 2.45pmBook tickets
Tuesday 23 June

£6 for Members

 6.00pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 16th June)
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17:45

Fairyland 15
£6 for Members
1h 56m
Set in San Francisco from the 1970s to 1980s, this drama follows a father and daughter navigating bohemian life and social change as their bond is tested by the AIDS crisis. Adapted from Alysia Abbott’s memoir, it’s a tender coming-of-age story of love and resilience.

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20:30

The Holy Mountain U
£6 for Members
1h 45m
Rethinking Weimar Cinema
Made in 1926 by Arnold Fanck, The Holy Mountain is a landmark German Bergfilm featuring Leni Riefenstahl. Set in the Alps, it blends a romantic triangle with spectacular mountaineering, skiing and avalanches. Presented by Rethinking Weimar Cinema.

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 17th June)
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15:30

The Christophers 15
Descriptive Subtitles
1h 40m
A reclusive London artist (Ian McKellen) becomes the target of a scheme by his estranged children, who recruit a young painter (Michaela Coel) to infiltrate his home and uncover hidden works. Steven Soderbergh’s darkly comic chamber piece explores deception, legacy and artistic value.

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18:00

The Spirit of the Beehive PG
1h 38m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
Director's Cuts: Lucile Hadžihalilović
In a small Spanish village under early Franco rule, a child’s fascination with Frankenstein blurs imagination and reality. Victor Erice’s celebrated classic is a landmark of Spanish cinema, revered for its poetic depiction of childhood and political shadowed history.

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20:30

Backrooms 15
1h 45m
When a patient vanishes through a strange basement doorway of a furniture showroom, his therapist follows him into a disorienting dimension. Expanding Kane Parsons’ cult online series, this feature-length adaptation stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve and bringing “liminal horror” to the big screen.

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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!

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