This February, film lovers are truly spoilt for choice: from Andrew Haigh’s moving and critically acclaimed masterpiece All of Us Strangers, to the glorious visual feast The Taste of Things, our February programme is full of unmissable titles.
Below are just a few February highlights.
THE ZONE OF INTEREST is playing now at The Lexi
Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-nominated The Zone of Interest is not light viewing, but it’s certainly vital. Wendy Ide, writing for The Guardian, has said that it’s one of a rare category of films which ‘strike like a lightning bolt on a first watch and stay with you, scarring themselves into your psyche and subtly but permanently shifting your movie-viewing paradigm on its axis.’ A chilling study of evil, the film follows Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig as they meticulously craft a pristine and bucolic life for themselves and their children. Yet beside their idyllic house and garden is Auschwitz: the horrors that it houses are all but unseen save for the smoke that billows overhead, but it’s constantly heard through an unsettling ambient soundscape, the result of a 600-page research document compiled by the film’s sound designer Johnnie Burn.
THE COLOR PURPLE arrives at The Lexi on Friday 16 February
Produced by some of the biggest names in the business - Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, who brought audiences the original highly acclaimed screen adaptation - The Color Purple is a powerful new take on the beloved novel by Alice Walker, and the equally-adored broadway play. It’s the story of Celie, who has faced countless hardships in her life, but who finds strength and hope through an extraordinary sisterhood of three women with an unbreakable bond. Spanning several decades, it’s a powerful story of resilience punctuated by unforgettable musical numbers.
THE TASTE OF THINGS plays at The Lexi from Friday 23 February
In The Taste of Things, we find ourselves in 19th century France, where the gentle romance between chef Eugenie (Juliette Binoche) and gourmet Dodin (Benoît Magimel) has been simmering away for years as they’ve worked together in a pleasantly rustic French kitchen. They’re excellent companions, but Eugenie is protective of her freedom. Yet things are about to reach boiling point (the culinary metaphors end here), as Dodin prepares to do something he’s never done before in order to win Eugenie over: cook her a meal. This is a gorgeous historical romance and a sensory feast (ah, there we go!) that’s all about glorious French cuisine. Actually, to be more precise, it’s a story of two people whose love language is, it would appear, cooking delicious meals for one another. Is there a dating app to find partners like that?
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE arrives Friday 23 February
Starring a magnetic Kingsely Ben-Adir as the world’s most famous Reggae musician, Bob Marley: One Love is a powerful biopic which tells the remarkable story of Bob Marley’s life. A powerful force within both music and political activism, this is an inspirational story of courage in the face of adversity, and the power of music to change the world. Joining Ben-Adir is Lashana Lynch, who delivers a remarkable performance as Rita Marley.
ALL OF US STRANGERS is showing now at The Lexi
There’s no shortage of critical acclaim for All of Us Strangers, and it’s won a number of awards, too, including a number of BIFAs and London Critics’ Circle Awards. We follow Adam, a lonely writer living in an even lonelier tower block in London, as he returns to the suburban town where he grew up. Adam hopes to draw on his childhood experiences for his latest work, and to his surprise, he finds that his parents – killed in an accident when he was a child – are alive and living exactly as they were decades before in his childhood home. Meanwhile, the course of Adam’s everyday existence is unexpectedly altered by a burgeoning romance with a mysterious new neighbour (Paul Mescal). With its enthralling themes of new love and a reaching for a past that’s long gone in hopes of rewriting our present, it’s a poignant watch.
Catch an Andrew Haigh double bill on Saturday 10 February with Weekend, Andrew Haigh’s 2011 feature which chronicles the weekend of two men who wake up together after a one night stand.
YOUR FAT FRIEND plays on Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 February
From master documentarian Jeanie Finlay (Seahorse), Your Fat Friend follows the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon. From her early days as an anonymous blogger writing under the name ‘Your Fat Friend’, to her role as a public columnist for Self magazine and co-host of an immensely popular podcast, Gordon’s mission is to fight for a paradigm shift in the way we see fat people and the fat on our own bodies. An insightful and complex documentary, it’s guaranteed to leave you thinking long after the credits roll. Both screenings of Your Fat Friend will be followed by recorded Q&As with director Jeanie Finlay and star Aubrey Gordon.
Our half term family fun programme is underway!
This Spring half term, we’ve got films that will delight kids and grown ups alike - all for just £8. Older kids and adults will be able to catch Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated masterpiece: The Boy and The Heron. Meanwhile little ones will be overjoyed to hear that we’ll be screening Peppa’s Cinema Party - a Peppa Pig-themed extravaganza celebrating 20 years of the beloved porcine pal. We’re also bringing back Wonka and Wish, so whether it’s live action or animated magic that you’re after, we’ve got you covered.
Gen Sandle
Lexi Marketing and Comms
