The newest branch of the Curzon cinema chain opened its doors on Friday 11 November as part of the Bentall Centre, and promises to be a welcome addition to Kingston’s growing list of cultural offerings.
Founded in 1934 by Harold Wingate, Curzon began initially as a distribution company, importing obscure titles from all corners of the world during the post-war period. This curious spirit has endured the last 88 years, and fans of foreign language and international cinema have access to a veritable feast of showings.
In a literal sense, Curzon’s first standalone restaurant, Pizza Kitchen, has a selection of sourdough pizzas and small plates which are all made in-house. Vegetarian and vegan options are also served alongside cocktails, milkshakes, smoothies and coffees. If that list isn’t exhaustive enough, the Bentall Centre site is also home to a rooftop bar, which is due to open in 2023.
Most importantly, the cinematic bar has been set incredibly high this year. Here are four films you should be sure to catch:
Triangle of Sadness
Two-time Palme d’Or award winner Ruben Östlund has returned at the top of his game with Triangle of Sadness; an exploration of the power struggles between beauty, power and social hierarchy. When a celebrity model couple, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (portrayed by the late Charlbi Dean) are invited aboard a luxury cruise for the super-rich, chaos ensues. With a turbulent captain (Woody Harrelson) at the helm, a catastrophe unfolds, leaving surviving members of the company and crew fighting for survival on a desert island. A black comedy with a scathing take on capitalist greed, Triangle of Sadness is a must-see for the sceptics among us.
Decision to Leave
Park Chan-Wook is no stranger to success, having received critical acclaim for past directorial efforts which include Oldboy and The Handmaiden.
Decision to Leave follows the experience of detective Hae-Joon (Park Hae-il), investigating the circumstances behind the death of a man after falling from a mountain ledge in South Korea. Did he jump? Or was he pushed? The deceased’s wife, Seo-Rae (Tang Wei), becomes Hae-Joon’s prime suspect. However, as he delves deeper into solving the case, Hae-Joon soon becomes entangled in a web of deceit and passion.
Barbarian
Mentored by master of the comedy-horror genre Jordan Peele, Zach Cregger writes, directs and makes a cameo appearance in Barbarian.
When Tess (Georgina Campbell) and Keith (Bill Skarsgård, of Stephen King’s IT fame) find they have been double-booked at the same Detroit rental home, the pair ignore their better judgement and decide to stay for the course. It quickly becomes apparent that there’s more to the property than meets the eye, when a realm of secret doors, subterranean tunnels and violent happenings is unveiled.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
A title which can be enjoyed by the whole family, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a continuation of the groundbreaking Marvel story. Following the death of King T’Challa (previously played by the late Chadwick Boseman), Wakandan’s must fight to protect their kingdom from intervention by other world powers. With an all-star cast which includes Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o (Us, 12 Years a Slave) and British actress and screenwriter Michaela Coel (whose credits include series Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You), Wakanda Forever sees director Ryan Coogler combine visual mastery and a vital discourse on racial and political disparity to create some of his most stunning work to date.
Tickets for all showings can be booked through the Curzon website, where you can find additional information on age ratings and descriptions. Opening hours are between 11am and midnight Monday – Sunday.
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