The Dam12A

Directed by Ali Cherri | Sudan | 2023 | 1h 20m | Arabic w/ English subtitles | Starring Maher El Khair, Mudathir Musa, Santino Aguer Ding, Abo Algassim Sir Alkhatim, Ayman Sharif

Each evening after work, a Sudanese bricklayer wanders into the desert to work on a mysterious construction made out of mud. While the Sudanese people rise to claim their freedom, his creation starts to take a life of its own. Lebanese artist and filmmaker Ali Cherri’s quietly political first feature is an enigmatic and allegorical film with flourishes of magical realism.

Reviews

‘The Dam is an enigmatic and often eerie mood piece which incorporates elements of the supernatural as it weaves a poignant political allegory of revolution.’
Andrew Murray, The Upcoming

‘Eerie, hallucinatory tale of Sudan on the brink’
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Dam between June 9, 2023 and June 15, 2023.

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What else is on?

Tomorrow (Friday 8th December)

15:30

Saltburn 15
2h 11m
Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, and Richard E Grant star in Oscar-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s (Promising Young Woman) wicked comedic satire of privilege, desire, and the UK class system.

Book here

18:15

The Eternal Daughter 12A
1h 36m
An artist (Tilda Swinton) and her mother (Tilda Swinton) return to their former family home which is now a haunted hotel in Joanna Hogg's (The Souvenir) suspenseful and chilling Gothic ghost story.

Book here

20:30

Oxford Int. Film Festival 2023 15
The Oxford International Film Festival returns to the UPP for another programme of short films made by filmmakers from all around the world. One-off screening with intros and Q&As.

Book here


Saturday 9th December

15:45

Tótem 12A
1h 35m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
Mexican filmmaker Lila Avilés’ touching drama, following her acclaimed debut The Chambermaid, unfolds as an emotional portrayal of family upheavals told through the eyes of a child.

Book here

18:00

Saltburn 15
2h 11m
Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, and Richard E Grant star in Oscar-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s (Promising Young Woman) wicked comedic satire of privilege, desire, and the UK class system.

Book here

20:45

The Eternal Daughter 12A
1h 36m
An artist (Tilda Swinton) and her mother (Tilda Swinton) return to their former family home which is now a haunted hotel in Joanna Hogg's (The Souvenir) suspenseful and chilling Gothic ghost story.

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 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!