The Ballad Of Suzanne CesaireCert-TBC

Directed by Madeleine Hunt Ehrlich | USA | 2024 | 1h 15m

A trailblazer of Afro-Caribbean surrealism, a committed feminist and anti-colonialist, and co-founder of the influential Martinican journal Tropiques, Suzanne Césaire was a formidable intellectual force. Yet her legacy has long been eclipsed by that of her husband, the renowned poet and statesman Aimé Césaire. Drawing on Suzanne’s own writings and intimate testimony from her family, Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich’s delicately layered documentary essay seeks to restore her rightful place in history. Rather than reducing her to biography, the film honours Césaire’s legacy through an evocative blend of memory, imagination, and mystery, celebrating what we know while embracing what remains unknowable.

Reviews

‘This succinct, elliptical feature by American filmmaker and visual artist Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich is not so much about its subject as it is a cinematic song or poem for her.’
Jonathan Romney, The FT

Book tickets

Sunday 17 August

8.30pmBook tickets
Tuesday 19 August

£6 for Members

5.45pmBook tickets
Thursday 21 August

4.15pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Friday 8th August)

15:45

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 12A
1h 38m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
When high schooler Makoto gains the power to time travel, life becomes a game, until unintended consequences catch up. This beautifully animated sci-fi coming-of-age tale is a beloved modern classic, blending wonder with poignant reflections on growing up.

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18:00

Friendship 15
1h 41m
What begins as a quirky bromance spirals into a hilariously dark tale of obsession and unraveling sanity. Comedian Tim Robinson shines in this off-kilter comedy about loneliness and the awkward terror of modern male connection.

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20:30

Harvest 18
2h 14m
In a timeless rural village gripped by unrest, fear and superstition give rise to paranoia. Beautifully shot, this unnerving folk drama explores humanity’s uneasy relationship with change, nature, and the ghosts of modernity.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 9th August)

15:15

Elio PG
1h 38m
Pixar’s newest hero is a lonely boy catapulted into the cosmic spotlight. Mistaken for Earth’s ambassador, Elio must charm aliens, conquer fears, and find himself in a galaxy of wonders. A vibrant, heartfelt tale of belonging across the stars.

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17:30

Hearts of Darkness 15
1h 36m
Go behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now in this riveting documentary. As weather, war, and obsession spiral the production into chaos, Eleanor Coppola captures a raw, unforgettable portrait of madness, artistry, and the personal cost of cinematic ambition.

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20:00

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut 15
3h 2m
Sent upriver into Vietnam’s heart of darkness, Captain Willard faces horror, madness, and moral decay. This definitive version of Francis Ford Coppola’s visionary war epic is a cinematic experience like no other. Raw, hallucinatory, and breathtaking in its scale.

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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 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!