Throne of Blood12A

Dir. Akira Kurosawa | Japan | 1957 | 1h 50m | Japanese w/ English subs | Starring Toshirô Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura

In this vivid adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Akira Kurosawa transposes “The Scottish Play” into a deeply atmospheric exploration of warrior traditions in sixteenth-century Japan. Toshiro Mifune gives a feral performance as the doomed warlord Washizu striving for total power alongside his ruthless wife, portrayed by the brilliant Isuzu Yamada. Kurosawa fuses atmosphere and action with more formal elements taken from Noh theatre in this unforgettable, fog-laden re-telling of Shakespeare’s chilling tragedy.

If you buy a ticket for this screening of Throne of Blood as well as Seven Samurai (Sun 7 Nov, 16:30) and Yojimbo (Sun 7 Nov, 21:00) in a single transaction you will receive a 15% discount on the total cost. 

Reviews

‘It remains a landmark of visual strength, permeated by a particularly Japanese sensibility, and is possibly the finest Shakespearean adaptation ever committed to the screen.’
Derek Malcolm, The Guardian

 

          

Screening as part of Japan 2020: Over 100 years of Japanese Cinema, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. bfijapan.co.uk

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Throne of Blood between November 7, 2021 and November 8, 2021.

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What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 17th December)

18:00

All We Imagine as Light 15
£6 for Members
1h 58m | Malayalam & Hindi w/ English Subtitles
In working-class Mumbai, the lives of three women intertwine. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, this ravishingly shot and deeply poignant drama celebrates the transformative power of sisterhood.

Book here

20:45

Conclave 12A
Subtitled / £6 for Members
2h
After the sudden death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is thrust into one of the world’s most secretive and ancient rituals: the selection of a new pontiff. A captivating political drama starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini.

Book here


Tomorrow (Wednesday 18th December)

15:15

Paddington in Peru PG
1h 46m
Marmalade sandwiches at the ready. Everyone's favourite bear is back on the big screen! Paddington takes the Brown family on an adventure through the rainforest after receiving a letter from his Aunt Lucy in Peru.

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17:45

Bird 15
1h 59m
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank) and starring Franz Rogowski and Barry Keoghan, this tender tale of a teenager's encounter with a strange drifter blends the magical with gritty social realism.

Book here

20:30

All About My Mother 15
1h 41m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
A grieving mother goes out to find the father of her deceased son, and unexpectedly becomes the heart of a makeshift family. Pedro Almodóvar’s vivid, Oscar-winning meoldrama is a tender exploration of the meaning of motherhood.

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!