MAN BITES DOG AND FUNNY GAMES

MAN BITES DOG AND FUNNY GAMES

Vampires - Official Trailer [HD]

VAMPIRES AND VAMP

VAMPIRES AND VAMP

This week sees part three of our dark comedy double bill with  two modern classics  first up the darkly satirical VAMPIRES , constructed as a fly on the wall documentary about the lives of a family of Vampires living in modern day Belgium. This hilarious and disquieting feature will stay with you and keep you chuckling for days after. Followed by VAMP with Grace Jones  80’s cult classic gets an airing for the first time in twenty years beautifully camp, classic 80’s a must see for any cult film fan with a taste for college humor. With the usual free popcorn and rum.

BLACK COMEDY DOUBLE BILL PART TWO

This weeks double bill is part two of our black comedy session of films with Emir Kusturica’s BLACK CAT WHITE CAT is an hilarious, beautiful, visually stunning and an incredible watch for fans of all film, humor, beauty and intelligence. Followed by Im Sang-soo’s THE PRESIDENT’S LAST BANG a political satire from Korea and in classical Korean style it is both brutal and stylish in the same breath an amazing little gem. This Sunday from 6PM with the usual free popcorn and rum this week it’s KRAKEN rum so get down early. From Sunday at 6PM

BLACK COMEDY DOUBLE BILL PART ONE

AALTRA AND TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE

TROPICALIA AND PETER WHITEHEAD AND THE SIXTIES

TROPICALIA AND PETER WHITEHEAD AND THE SIXTIES  

This week’s double bill is looks at cultural movements. Tropicalism was one of Brazil’s most significant cultural movements a collective of creative like-minded individuals using music and visual art to question the political establishment this vibrant approach to anarchy is captured beautifully by filmmaker MARCELO MACHADO. This passionate, vibrant era defining documentary takes a snap shot of this iconic period of Brazilian history. Packed with liberationist optimism, and swimming in a culture of art, music, fashion, film, theatre and literature. What a way to fight a dictatorship. Next up is PETER WHITEHEAD AND THE SIXTIES; his documentary documents the production of a play by the famously radical theatre director PETER BROOK. Brook’s play questions Britain’s relationship to America during the Vietnam War, questioning the validity of the special relationship, which still holds relevance in today’s current political climate.

MORGIANA AND DAISIES

MORGIANA AND DAISIES

SANTA SANGRE AND FREAKS

SANTA SANGRE AND FREAKS

I AM CUBA AND MAMMA ROMA

I AM CUBA AND MAMMA ROMA

The Mesmerizing cities double bill continues with the ultimate in political cinema I AM CUBA and MAMMA ROMA proof positive that questioning the society we live in can be done with beauty and grace. When I first saw these films I AM CUBA left me re-thinking my perceptions of that period in history and questioning my own politics, something  I never thought I would do off the back of a film. It is being screened tonight from 6PM 

GODZILLA AND THE FLY

GODZILLA AND THE FLY 

FRENCHIE'S REVIEW

After seeing this film I get where the hate comes from for the Matthew Broderick starring Godzilla US remake. Whilst that was an entertaining, yet cheesy action film, the tone of the original 1954 Japanese film is a lot more dramatic and political. Whilst there had been monster movies before this one, such as King Kong, really it was new ground for Japanese cinema, which had been used to more dramatic films and samurai movies. It nearly bankrupt the film studio making this film and it was one of the most ambitious and expensive Japanese films of its time. In fact this could well be one of the first Japanese films to use Hollywood style special effects. Godzilla came at a perfect time. Japan was left a poor country after World War II and the Nagasaki nuclear bomb had left a deep and terrible impact on the country. Godzilla is kind of a punk film that breaks the rules. You can tell watching that is a subtle dig at the political climate of the time. An anti-nuke and anti-war film. After all Godzilla is radioative and only exists because of the effects of nuclear radiation. The monster goes on to destroy Tokyo and devastate peoples lives. This is a strong metaphor for the nuclear bomb itself that fell on Japan, and not only devastated peoples lives there and then, but left a horrible stamp on the country that would effect future generations. Godzilla is incredibly well written and very smart, because the politics are kept very subtle and aren't in your face. It doesn't feel like you are watching a film about politics, it's still a very entertaining monster movie. And the final acts of the eye patched scientist character speak even more volumes about the effects of war and nuclear bombs, and it is actually a very moving finale (that I won't spoil).

None of the other Godzilla films even attempt to be so daring and political. That is why the US remake is a bit of a joke, because it doesn't seem to understand the political subtlety of the original film. It's not as moving or as clever, and is just an excuse to go crazy with the latest special effects. Watching this in 2014, I was afraid some of the effects used might look incredibly outdated and cheesy. Whilst Godzilla doesn't look that menacing any more, I was still impressed by some of the practical effects, use of miniatures and in general the way it was filmed. Godzilla is a timeless and influential classic, as well as a daring film to make at the time. It's story is very easy to follow and the character is very memorable and has since become iconic with Japanese culture. If that doesn't make this a masterpiece of cinema, I don't know what else could!

BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITIES

KOYAANISQATSI AND POWAQQATSI

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE AND IF

 TONIGHT we will be at SEVEN OAKS next to MANCHESTER CITY ART GALLERY for todays double bill of two of the greatest underground classics at one of Manchester's most historic pub. From 6PM with the usual  free popcorn and rum

MASTERS AT WORK SPECIAL

FEDERICO FELLINI AND MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI 

JAMAL MOSS

JAMAL MOSS 

Chicago legend Jamal Moss and the Boomkat boys will be playing Manchester this Easter Sunday, a night not to  be missed. It will be a night of visual and musical magic. One night,  one unique venue, one Jamal Moss.

http://youtu.be/vF0fbiBLieI

BARRY LYNDON AND THE SWIMMER

BARRY LYNDON AND THE SWIMMER

TONIGHT FROM 6PM THE CULTIVATE EASTER SPECIAL AT JOSHUA BROOKS

WHERE ART MEETS FILM

KILLER JOE AND THE UNPOLISHED (DIE UNERZOGENEN)

KILLER JOE AND THE UNPOLISHED

This weeks double bill is a dysfunctional special with the unflinching study of a young girl caught up in a complicated adult world in THE UNPOLISHED (DIE UNERZOGENEN). Followed by William Friedkin's (THE EXORCIST) KILLER JOE the very black comedy and morally bankrupt tail of control, with a viciously humorous script that tells the story of the toxic relationship between a dirty cop and an innocent girl

Dark Days - Trailer

DARK DAYS AND AM I BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU

DARK DAYS AND AM I BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU

This Sundays double bill screenings are two documentary's looking at social change and social documentation through music. The two mesmerizing films are DARK DAYS by Marc Singer, a haunting look at homelessness in New York a film which is both heart breaking and hilarious,  its intimate portrayal of life underground is accompanied by a dream like score composed by DJ SHADOW. Followed by Goran Hugo Olsson's, AM I BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU the story of BILLY PAUL and the sound of Philadelphia Records an amazing trip through the cultural and musical history of 70's Philadelphia. We are back in the basement after our detour upstairs last week.

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND SEPERATION

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE Directed by JOHN CASSAVETES

SEPARATION Directed by JACK BOND Written by JANE ARDEN

XXY AND MAGICK LANTERN CYCLE

MAGICK LANTERN AND XXY

THIS SUNDAY FROM 7PM 
This weeks screenings look at gender and sexuality through the eyes of both the artist and the filmmaker. First up is the intensely intoxicating XXY. XXY tells the story of an inter-sex 15 year-old struggling not just with her gender but also her sexuality. This Argentinean masterpiece will clear up any prejudice surrounding inter-sex and transgenderism. Next up is the artist interpretation of sexuality with KENNETH ANGERS MAGICK LANTERN CYCLE, a collection of short films made by the king of super 16mm, not forgetting poetry from DAVID HUCKETT. With the usual free drinks and popcorn to relax you into the boules of the basement.

PRIMITIVE LONDON AND PROSTITUTE

PRIMITIVE LONDON AND PROSTITUTE

Sub culture sunday at CULTIVATE, from 60's underground to 80's underclass

AUDITION AND JOANNA

AUDITION AND JOANNA

This weeks double bills looks at morality and how our perceptions and morals can be distorted to fit our end goals, and the lengths we go to, too justify our actions or lack there of, first up is AUDITION by Miike Takashi this cleverly crafted bookended will keep you gripped to the very end, and second up is JOANNA by Michael Serne the story of a girl who’s morality is engineered to suite her own ends. With usual free popcorn and rum.