I AM DIVINE & YOU AND THE NIGHT

QUEER SCREEN PART 3 

This week sees the third and final part of our queer season with the ultimate outsider artist, a true original and cultural icon. I AM DIVINE charts the life of performance artist and cultural muse DIVINE this documentary creates a portrait of an artist destined to become a legend. Followed by YOU AND THE NIGHT set over the period of a night the film explores gender sexuality and the power structures within the different relationships two must-see for lovers of film.

With the usual free popcorn and rum.

GAY SEX IN THE 70'S & THE ANGELIC CONVERSATION

PART 2 OF THE QUEER SCREEN SEASON

This week's double bill sees part 2 of the Queer screen season. First up is the visually stunning documentary charting the growing politicization of the New York gay community of the 1970's and the sexual liberation this openness brought to a community that had been alienated and ostracized for centuries. Had a brief moment of openness and freedom to express their sexuality, this film shows their brief time in the sun before the holiday was brought abruptly to an end with the onset of HIV and AIDS. An engrossing and visual feast a must-see for any film fan. Next up is Derek Jarman's exploration of the love sonnet and his re-imagining of Shakespeare's love poems, his dreamlike visuals and poetic narrative voiced by Dame Judy Dench have a timeless appeal.

With the usual free popcorn and rum.

Facebook: cultivate film art

STRANGER BY THE LAKE & ANOTHER WAY (EGYMASRA NEZVE)

 PART 1 OF THE CULTIVATE QUEER SEASON

This week sees the start of our short season of queer cinema on the lead up to Manchester Pride. After three years of searching I have finally found a film that represents the female gay relationship in an intelligent, multilayer, emotional and political context I had to go all the way to Hungary this gem from 1982 by Karoly Makk ANOTHER WAY. This film doesn’t just looks at love under the restrictive regime of the Stalinist government it also gives a frank portrait of the effects of living under totalitarianism and how it can intrude on the most intimate aspects of ones life, this film has an emotional depth that takes it beyond the label of queer cinema and more into the realms of political cinema a true classic and a must-see if you’re a fan of strong narrative film. Followed by STRANGER BY THE LAKE an intense thriller set amongst a picturesque lake in rural France, this mix of comedy and tragedy charts a young mans infatuation for a seriously flawed older man who is determined to embark on a relationship despite his knowledge of his lovers darker side. Putting a new twist on the culture of cruising you will both laugh and cry a darkly comic joy.

With the usual free popcorn and Rum

SUNSET BOULEVARD & PEPE LE MOKO

MASTERS AT WORK


This week marks the end of our classics season two pieces of high drama, first up is Gloria Swanson's swan song SUNSET BOULEVARD. As the aging silent film actress Norma Desmond clinging to past successes she strike up a friendship with a struggling writer. Two people desperately trying to resurrect their careers, beautiful yet darkly satirical Billy Wilder pulls off a master stroke with this masterpiece of modern cinema. Followed by Julien Duvivier's French classic PEPE LE MOKO taking the classic gangster movie to a poetic level classed as one of the best FRENCH ever made it is definitely up there with the greats. With the usual free popcorn and rum.

PUMPING IRON & THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN

CLASSICS NIGHT

Iconic documentary and classic film

This week we reach the end of our classics season with the ultimate bodybuilding documentary PUMPING IRON with the psychological game play of Ken Weller as he steals the prize at the Mr Olympia from under the nose of Mike Katz. While also reflecting on the contrasting personalities of Arnold Schwarzenegger the arrogant, brash over confident titleholder looking for one last hoorah and the shy reserved Lou Ferrigno. You can’t help but get behind the quiet man this is a captivating watch whether you’re into the body aesthetic or into documentary film it’s a must. Followed by THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN what looks like a classic bit of 50’s sci-fi is bathed in political undertones with everything from environmental mismanagement to corporate competence. This week is defiantly one for the film fans with the usual free popcorn and rum.

PUMPING IRON 85 mins

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN 78 mins

RASHOMON & THE FLOWERS AND THE ANGRY WAVE

JAPANESE CLASSICS

Back at Joshua Brooks​ with two very stylish and visually stunning classics this week, first up is Kurosawa's masterpiece RASHOMON this relentless gripping classic follows the trial of a notorious bandit accused of the murder of a samurai and the brutal attack of his wife. The story is told from two vantage points that of the accused and the accuser as the two stories consistently contradict each other till the itself is called into question. Next up is the riotous and visceral Suzuki classic THE FLOWERS AND THE ANGRY WAVE unionist rebellion Japanese style when a miner leads a rebellion against the controlling minority with bloody results unionist activism with sword fights.  

THE TRIAL & LA GRANDE ILLUSION

MASTERS AT WORK

This Sunday we celebrate two godfathers of cinema first up is the Orson Welles screen adaptation of Kafka's THE TRAIL. This dark depiction of the future shot in stark black and white, Welles gives us a master class in building tension and alienation this dark brooding masterpiece is unforgettable. Next up is Jean Renoir's LA GRANDE ILLUSION one of the most powerful anti-war statements set to film ever made. Set in the German prison camps of WW1 Renoir took from his own experiences as an active aviator during the first world war to create an authentic feel married with his quietly subversive analysis of French society, this multi-award winning masterpiece will stay with you.