True StoriesPG

Directed by David Byrne | USA | 1986 | 1h 29m | Starring David Byrne, John Goodman, Annie McEnroe, Swoosie Kurtz, Spalding Gray, Alix Elias

A group of quirky locals in a Reagan-era Texan town unite to organise a talent show to celebrate their state’s 150th anniversary. Directed and hosted by a cowboy-hatted David Byrne, the frontman of American post-punk band Talking Heads, True Stories draws inspiration from tabloid headlines to create a postmodern tribute to the extraordinary nature of everyday American life.

Join us for a Byrne’s Night special double-feature screening of True Stories alongside Jonathan Demme’s iconic Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense on Saturday 25th January. Click here to book your double-feature tickets.

Reviews

‘It’s a bold attempt to paint a bizarre American landscape. This movie does what some painters try to do: It recasts ordinary images into strange new shapes.’
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

‘An exuberant and wonderfully oddball stew of deadpan comedy, character drama, music video, and art installation.’
Jason Bailey, Fl

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We showed True Stories between January 25, 2025 and January 25, 2025.

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Tomorrow (Saturday 18th April)
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14:30

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.

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17:00

Dead Man's Wire 15
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In 1977, businessman Tony Kiritsis takes a mortgage broker hostage with a deadly “dead man’s switch,” demanding millions and an apology. Gus Van Sant’s tense, darkly comic thriller brings this bizarre true story to life with Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino, and Colman Domingo.

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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!

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