This January, we’ve got some fantastic awards season contenders on our screens, we’re kicking off our Agnès Varda retrospective, and we’re hosting a series of shorts with the London Short Film Festival.
Here’s your guide to January at The Lexi:
Poor Things
Poor Things arrives Friday 19 January at The Lexi Cinema
Sweeping up two Golden Globes (best comedy feature and best actress for Emma Stone), plus a golden lion at the Venice Film Festival, Poor Things is one to watch this awards season. In Victorian England, a young woman is brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe). With her mind a blank slate, she’s endlessly curious and filled with desires. When she runs away with a charming yet unscrupulous lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) on a world tour, she encounters anew all the joys (and horrors) of being human. To quote Christy Lemire writing for Roger Ebert: ‘It’s as if “Barbie” were actually about Weird Barbie, but even that idea doesn’t quite do it justice’. With it’s staggering performances and gorgeous backdrop of a reimagined, steampunk-esque 19th Century Europe, you’ll be as awestruck as Bella by the unfolding scenes.’ View showtimes.
The Holdovers
Catch The Holdovers from 19 January at The Lexi
Another Golden Globes favourite, The Holdovers stars Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph both bagged Golden Globe awards at this year’s ceremony. A 70s-set comedy drama, the scene is a New England Prep School, where curmudgeonly and decidedly unpopular teacher Paul (Giamatti) must remain during the winter vacation to look after the holdovers: the students with nowhere else to go. Paul ends up stuck with Angus, a young and troubled rebel, and the school’s cook Mary (Randolph), who’s grieving a son lost in Vietnam. Though hardly fast friends, the trio discover a surprising connection over the course of the snowy holidays. It’s a warm and sometimes bittersweet comedy, with impeccable (and hilarious) performance all round. View showtimes.
A Year with Agnès: La Point Courte
La Pointe Courte will screen on Tuesday 30 January
This year, we’ll be exploring director Agnès Varda’s remarkable body of work. Boasting a filmmaking career that spanned 7 decades, Varda is regarded by many as the mother of the French New Wave. Through ten films screening throughout 2024, we invite you to discover her visionary work.
We’re beginning where it all started, with the first feature of Varda’s career: La Pointe Courte, produced in 1955. A depiction of the troubled marriage between Elle and Lui, as the couple spend time in Lui’s hometown, a Mediterranean fishing village. Elle’s feelings of discontent are intercut with a documentary-like look at the daily lives of the village residents. View showtimes.
London Short Film Festival: Hi, How Are You?
London Short Film Festival presents Hi, How Are You? - a series of animated shorts curated for a younger audience (age 9 -12, though all are welcome!). Each title explores the idea of handling difficult feelings, whether big or small: from facing the fears inside our heads, to braving outer space. Stories of survival, friendship, and family, brought to life through vibrant animations. View showtimes.
Looking ahead: titles to look out for…
From 2 February, we’ll be screening All of Us Strangers: sweeping up multiple BIFA awards, it’s a moving and disquieting drama starring Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. View showtimes.
Also from 2 February, look out for Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer’s chilling Cannes Grand Prix winner which follows the unsettling lifestyle of a Nazi commandant’s family. View showtimes.
Updates from The Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Institute in South Africa is The Lexi Cinema's longstanding partner charity
Our wonderful partner charity, The Sustainability Institute, enjoyed a 2023 marked by success, and they’re already looking ahead to what promises to be a great 2024: ‘The year 2024 holds the promise of unveiling a butterfly—our organisation's evolved form, embodying resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to positive impact’, writes co-director Vanessa von der Heyde.
The SI is situated in one of the most threatened veld ecosystems of the Cape Floristic Region: an extremely biodiverse area, it holds numerous indigenous plant foods that had sustained local inhabitants for millennia. A particular highlight for The Sustainabilty Institute in 2023 was their foucs on enhancing the availability of indigenous ingredients, by working with farmer trainers to teach cultivation practices of these local ingredients.
Other highlights included a market day hosted by budding young entrepreneurs at the SI’s Lynedoch Community School, and the launch of a Future Fathers support group for those young learners growing up without a father figure.
Looking ahead to 2024, the SI will be launching two new ‘carbon courses’ which will aid businesses and individuals on topics such as carbon offsetting and carbon footprints.
Through your support of The Lexi, you’re helping us to keep supporting The Sustainability Institute’s environmental and educational initiatives! To find out more, visit: https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/about-us/vission-mission-values/
Gen Sandle
Lexi Marketing and Comms
