VictimPG

Directed by Basil Dearden | UK | 1961 | 1h 40m | Starring Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, Peter Copley

In early 1960s London, respected barrister Melville Farr has a thriving legal career and a seemingly perfect marriage. But when he’s linked to a young gay man targeted by blackmailers, Farr risks everything to expose the truth and confront the men behind the scheme. Featuring a fearless performance by Dirk Bogarde, Victim was groundbreaking in its time (the first British film to openly address homosexuality) and remains a powerful, deeply human portrait of courage in the face of societal hypocrisy.

Classic Season: Queer Thrillers

Reviews

‘Recent critics find Victim timid in its treatment of homosexuality, but viewed in the context of Great Britain in 1961, it’s a film of courage.’
★★★★★
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

‘There are many pleasures to be found in the quirky supporting cast, expressive, noir-style lighting and an effectively suspenseful opening.’
★★★★
Ben Walters, Time Out

Book tickets

Sunday 22 June

 1.45pmBook tickets
Wednesday 25 June

 8.45pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Saturday 14th June)
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20:30

Bound 18
1h 49m
Classic Season: Queer Thrillers
Before The Matrix, the Wachowskis burst onto the scene with this taut, stylish noir. A sexy, subversive heist film with queer leads, Bound is now a revered cult classic – razor-sharp, fiercely confident, and decades ahead of its time.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 15th June)
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12:45

Zarafa PG
1h 19m
Kino Kids Cinema Club
A brave Sudanese boy befriends an orphaned giraffe. Together, they journey across deserts and seas to visit the King of France. This heartwarming animated tale celebrates courage and the power of friendship. Kino Kids Cinema Club screening, tickets £6 for adults and £4 for children.

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14:45

Dreams PG
1h 59m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
Classic Season: Dreamscapes
Akira Kurosawa presents eight stunning, surreal tales drawn from his own dreams and folklore. A visual feast that journeys from childhood wonder to environmental dread, it’s a poetic and personal meditation on art and memory.

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17:30

The Village Next to Paradise Cert-TBC
2h 13m | Somali w/ English subtitles
SAFAR Film Festival 2025
In a Somali coastal village, a father makes desperate choices to support his family, while his sister seeks freedom and his son is sent away for a better future. Mo Harawe's powerful debut about love, sacrifice, and survival showing as part of SAFAR Film Festival 2025.

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20:00

The Phoenician Scheme 15
1h 41m
When a billionaire bequeaths his empire to his nun daughter, chaos follows. Assassins, tycoons, and wild twists abound in Wes Anderson’s latest star-studded comedy caper, starring Benicio Del Toro, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Cera.

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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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