The Ballad Of Suzanne CesairePG

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

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Ballad Of Suzanne Cesaire between August 17, 2025 and August 21, 2025.

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

What else is on?

Today (Saturday 9th May)

17:45

The Stranger 15
2h 2m | French w/ English subtitles
Set in French Algeria, Meursault drifts through life until his mother’s death sparks judgment, conflict, and tragedy. François Ozon’s sensitive, queer-inflected adaptation illuminates the emotional and moral complexities at the heart of Albert Camus’s existential masterpiece.

Book here

20:30

The Love Witch 15
+ Intro by Peter Strickland
2h 1m
A modern witch searches for love through spells and seduction, leaving chaos in her wake. Anna Biller’s stylised homage to Technicolor cinema blends horror, humour, and sharp feminist insight, transforming romance into a dangerous fantasy of obsession and desire.

Book here


Tomorrow (Sunday 10th May)

15:15

The Blue Trail 15
1h 25m | Portuguese w/ English subtitles
In a near-future dystopia, government relocates older citizens to remote colonies. Defying the mandate, Tereza pursues her dream of flight, embarking on an illegal Amazon journey. Silver Bear winner Gabriel Mascaro crafts a lyrical tale of resistance, freedom, and self-determination.

Book here

17:30

The Magnificent Ambersons U
Intro + 35mm Screening
1h 28m
In a prosperous Midwestern town at the turn of the century, the powerful Amberson family faces decline as the modern world closes in. Orson Welles crafts a moving - and tantalisingly incomplete - story of pride, love, and missed chances. Presented on 35mm film.

Book here

20:00

Rebuilding PG
1h 36m
After a wildfire destroys his home, divorced father and ranch owner Dusty must plant roots. Now living in a trailer community, he rebuilds his life, reconnecting with his estranged daughter and ex-wife, anchored by Colorado’s landscapes and Josh O’Connor’s performance.

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 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!