The Last Emperor15

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci | China | 1987 | 2h 43m | Starring John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole, Ruocheng Ying, Victor Wong

Sweeping historical epic about the life of Chinese Emperor Pu Yi, who took the throne at age three, in 1908, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval, within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Ching dynasty China with astonishing detail and unparalleled craftsmanship, the film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score for composers Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, and Cong Su.

Classic Season: Sakamoto / Vangelis / Badalamenti

Reviews

‘There’s no doubting its spectacular richness and heartfelt, deeply satisfying storytelling.’
★★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘One of the most visually arresting pictures of recent years.’
★★★★
David Parkinson, Radio Times

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Last Emperor between June 4, 2023 and June 4, 2023.

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Today (Thursday 17th July)
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15:15

The Way We Talk 12A
2h 12m | Hong Kong Sign Language, Cantonese w/ English and Chinese subtitles
Three deaf friends in Hong Kong clash over identity, communication, and community. Adam Wong’s moving drama offers a rare look at deaf culture, friendship, and the tension between self-expression and society’s expectations. A quietly powerful must-see.

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18:00

28 Years Later 15
1h 55m
Danny Boyle returns with a visceral sequel to his iconic zombie thriller. Decades after the Rage Virus, survivors venture into a ravaged mainland, only to face terrifying new mutations. Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson lead this haunting folk-horror reinvention.

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20:30

Amour 12A
2h 7m | French w/ English subtitles
Michael Haneke Classics
When Anne suffers a stroke, Georges must become her caregiver, confronting the slow, painful decline of the woman he loves. Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or-winning drama is a quiet, devastating portrait of aging, devotion, and dignity in life’s final chapter.

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Tomorrow (Friday 18th July)
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15:15

From Hilde, with Love 15
2h 5m | German w/ English subtitles
In Nazi-era Berlin, resistance fighter Hilde risks everything for love and liberty. Arrested while pregnant, she faces a harrowing fate with quiet defiance. This stirring true story is a moving tribute to resilience, sacrifice, and courage under impossible circumstances.

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18:00

The Shrouds 15
1h 59m
When futuristic tech lets the living watch the dead, one grieving man’s obsession turns sinister after his wife’s grave is desecrated. David Cronenberg returns with a chilling, cerebral thriller about grief, surveillance, and the eerie intersection of life and death.

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20:30

Pavements 15
2h 8m
1990s indie rock icons Pavement reunite for a sold-out 2022 tour just as bizarre tributes emerge, from a musical to a museum to a biopic. Alex Ross Perry directs a playful, surreal docu-satire blending fact, fiction, and fandom.

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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!

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