The Blue Caftan12A

Directed by Maryam Touzani | Morocco | 2023 | 2h 2m | Arabic w/ English subtitles | Starring Ayoub Missioui, Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, Mounia Lamkimel, Abdelhamid Zoughi

Married couple Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. Their union contains a secret which must be kept quiet due to living in a strictly conservative country, but the arrival of new apprentice threatens to upset the careful calibration of their lives. A thoughtful and intensely moving love story which sensitively navigates a country’s relationship with tradition and modernity.

Reviews

‘It’s a gentle piece of Arabic-language storytelling, one that softly, slowly enfolds the audience rather than propels them on a journey.’
★★★★
Wendy Ide, The Observer

‘The film, only the second feature that Maryam Touzani has directed, is a stunning portrayal of marital sacrifice and devotion.’
★★★★
Kevin Maher, The Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Blue Caftan between May 19, 2023 and May 25, 2023.

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What else is on?

Today (Wednesday 29th April)

15:15

The Magic Faraway Tree U
1h 50m
The Thompson children discover a magical tree leading to fantastical lands. Facing quirky inhabitants and wondrous adventures, they reconnect and grow closer. Enid Blyton’s beloved classic comes to life in this enchanting adaptation starring Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, and Claire Foy.

Book here

17:45

The Drama 15
1h 45m
Emma and Charlie’s wedding week descends into chaos after an unexpected revelation. With Kristoffer Borgli’s absurdist touch, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya navigate a darkly comic rom-com that’s clever, unconventional, and delightfully unpredictable.

Book here

20:15

Breakwater 12A
+ Director Introduction
1h 31m
Set between Oxford’s dreaming spires and Aldeburgh’s windswept coast, this landmark student-made feature from Oxford University follows Otto and John, bound by loss. As their connection deepens, buried secrets and grief resurface, haunting their fragile, transformative relationship.

Book here


Tomorrow (Thursday 30th April)

12:30

The Drama 15
Parent + Baby Screening
1h 45m
Emma and Charlie’s wedding week descends into chaos after an unexpected revelation. With Kristoffer Borgli’s absurdist touch, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya navigate a darkly comic rom-com that’s clever, unconventional, and delightfully unpredictable.

Book here

15:30

DJ Ahmet PG
1h 39m | Macedonian & Turkish w/ English subtitles
Fifteen-year-old Ahmet navigates life in a remote Yuruk village after his mother’s death, balancing family duties and community expectations. He finds escape in techno music, which draws him closer to Aya, in a lively, heartfelt coming-of-age story.

Book here

18:00

The Magic Faraway Tree U
1h 50m
The Thompson children discover a magical tree leading to fantastical lands. Facing quirky inhabitants and wondrous adventures, they reconnect and grow closer. Enid Blyton’s beloved classic comes to life in this enchanting adaptation starring Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, and Claire Foy.

Book here

20:30

The Wicker Man 15
+ Introduction
1h 35m
A devout Christian policeman travels to Scotland’s Summerisle to investigate a missing girl. A bleakly comic folk-horror culminating in one of 1970s British cinema’s shocking finales. May Day evening screening plus an introduction by Dr Michael Goodrum.

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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!