The Boy and the Heron12A

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki | Japan | 2023 | 2h 4m | Japanese language version voiced by: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Kô Shibasakim, Yoshino Kimura, Takuya Kimura. English language version voiced by: Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh

After the death of his mother during the Second World War, twelve-year-old Mahito moves to the countryside with his father. But when a talking heron informs him that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, plunging him into a bizarre parallel universe. A decade since his last feature, renowned Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro) makes a triumphant return with this captivating and enchanting adventure brimming with imagination and emotion. Winner of Best Animated Feature at this year’s BAFTAs and Oscars.

Reviews

‘A mind-mangling, logic-teasing explosion of poetry, philosophy and pure emotion. A more perfect final statement you could not imagine.’
★★★★★
Mark Asch, Little White Lies

‘Don’t call it a comeback — or another retirement. Do call it an astonishing, sumptuous animated fantasy featuring everything you love about one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.’
★★★★★
Ben Travis, Empire Magazine

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We showed The Boy and the Heron between January 19, 2024 and April 4, 2024.

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 14th January)
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15:15

Fiume o morte! 18
1h 52m | Croatian & Italian w/ English subtitles
Igor Bezinović revisits D’Annunzio’s 1919 ultranationalist occupation of Fiume, blending archival footage, reenactments, and interviews. This inventive documentary interrogates memory, myth-making, and lingering fascist shadows. Winner of Rotterdam’s Tiger Award and Croatia’s Oscar submission.

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2h 13m | Norwegian w/ English subtitles
Actress Nora confronts her estranged father, a famed director preparing a comeback, and reconnects with her sister. Old tensions and new ambitions collide, forcing them to face their past. Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning star in Joachim Trier’s (The Worst Person in the World) emotionally rich story of reconciliation.

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