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 (Saturday 23rd May)
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16:00

Dreamers 15
+ Introduction
1h 19m
After fleeing persecution in Nigeria, Isio is held in a removal centre awaiting an asylum decision. When she falls for her outspoken roommate Farah, she must choose between trusting the system or risking everything for love and freedom. Screening introduced by Asylum Welcome.

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18:15

Space Is the Place 18
1h 22m
Director's Cuts: Peter Strickland
Sun Ra leads his Arkestra on an interstellar journey to forge a new utopia. Blending sci-fi, performance, and radical politics, this electrifying film boldly channels Afrofuturist vision into a vibrant, cosmic experience where music, myth, and liberation collide.

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20:15

Rose of Nevada 15
1h 54m
When a long-lost fishing boat returns to a Cornish village, hope rises for renewal. Nick and newcomer Liam join a voyage, but return transformed and caught in a haunting time loop. Shot on grainy 16mm, Mark Jenkin (Bait) delivers a haunting, mind-bending folktale.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 24th May)
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14:45

Space Is the Place 18
1h 22m
Director's Cuts: Peter Strickland
Sun Ra leads his Arkestra on an interstellar journey to forge a new utopia. Blending sci-fi, performance, and radical politics, this electrifying film boldly channels Afrofuturist vision into a vibrant, cosmic experience where music, myth, and liberation collide.

Book here

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17:00

Gentle, Angry Women 12A
+ Q&A
1h 3m + 30m Q&A
Special Events
A new generation of young activists uncovers the overlooked history of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp. Retracing a 110-mile protest march, they connect past and present, exploring feminist activism and intergenerational resistance.

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19:15

Kokuho 15
2h 55m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
In 1964 Nagasaki, orphaned Kikuo is taken in by a renowned kabuki actor and raised alongside his son. As both boys become devoted performers, friendship turns to rivalry in Sang-il Lee’s sweeping drama exploring ambition and artistic mastery. Japan’s highest-grossing live-action film.

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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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