In Retrospect
In Retrospect is a new programme of films devoted to bringing cinema greats, cult classics and arthouse gems back to the big screen. The programme is hand picked and curated by our enthusiastic cinephile staff here at Abbeygate. The first selection features a season of Martin Scorsese, celebrates Pride month, and brings a classic back to the big screen.
SCORSESE SEASON PART I
TAXI DRIVER
1976
DIRECTOR | MARTIN SCORSESE
CAST | ROBERT DE NIRO | JODIE FOSTER | HARVEY KEITEL
WRITER | PAUL SCHRADER
Robert De Niro is Travis Bickle, an American war vet-turned-taxi driver, bent on cleaning New York City’s streets of its corruption and filth. With an iconic score from Bernard Hermann and performances from Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd and Jodie Foster, infamous film critic Roger Ebert praised Taxi Driver as one of the greatest films he had ever seen.
FRI 10 MAY 20:00 + WED 15 MAY 17:00
RAGING BULL
1980
DIRECTOR | MARTIN SCORSESE
CAST | ROBERT DE NIRO | JOE PESCI
CINEMATOGRAPHER | MICHAEL CHAPMAN
EDITOR | THELMA SCHOONMAKER
Based on the memoir of middleweight champion “The Bronx Bull” Jake LaMotta, Raging Bull explores the complexities of his turbulent life and boxing career. Robert DeNiro won his second Academy Award for the role and the film was voted ‘the best edited film of all time’ by the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
FRI 17 MAY 20:00 + WED 22 MAY 17:00
THE KING OF COMEDY
1982
DIRECTOR | MARTIN SCORSESE
CAST | ROBERT DE NIRO | JERRY LEWIS
MUSIC | ROBBIE ROBERTSON
EDITOR | THELMA SCHOONMAKER
Scorsese takes us into the world of Rupert Pupkin, a struggling stand-up comedian whose lifelong goal is to appear on his favourite late-night talk show. An inspiration for the 2019 hit Joker and one of legendary director Akira Kurosawa’s favourite films, this uneasy look at fame is an often overlooked Scorsese classic.
FRI 24 MAY 20:00 + WED 29 MAY 17:00
SPECIAL EVENT
THE GODFATHER PART II
1974
DIRECTOR | FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
CAST | AL PACINO | ROBERT DE NIRO
Following on from our March screening of The Godfather, we dive back into the chronicles of Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s multi Oscar-winning epic The Godfather Part II. Is this the greatest sequel of all time?
FRI 31 MAY 20:00 + WED 05 JUN 16:00
PRIDE MONTH
THE MATRIX – 25th ANNIVERSARY
1999
DIRECTOR | LANA WACHOWSKI, LILLY WACHOWSKI
CAST | KEANU REEVES | CARRIE-ANNE MOSS | LAURENCE FISHBURNE | HUGO WEAVING
No-one can be told what The Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you celebrate the 25th anniversary of a stone-cold cyberpunk classic on the big screen.
FRI 07 JUN + SUN 09 JUN 13:00
PRIDE
2019
DIRECTOR | MATTHEW WARCHUS
CAST | GEORGE MACKAY | BILL NIGHY | ANDREW SCOTT
WRITER | STEPHEN BERESFORD
Set in 1984, Matthew Warchus’ comedy drama Pride celebrates the amazing work done by the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign to raise money to help the families affected by the miner’s strikes. A feel good film with something to take away for everyone, we’re delighted to celebrate the films 10 year anniversary here at Abbeygate this June.
MON 10 JUN 20:00
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
1994
DIRECTOR | STEPHAN ELLIOTT
CAST | HUGO WEAVING | GUY PEARCE | TERENCE STAMP
Academy Award winning cult classic comedy Priscilla pulls into Abbeygate on its 30th anniversary. Following three drag queens adventuring through the Australian outback in a tour bus named Priscilla, the film was lauded as a roaringly comic and powerfully affecting road movie, and praised for its positive portrayal of gay and trans characters. With rumours swirling of a sequel in development, come and celebrate the original here at Abbeygate this Pride season.
FRI 14 JUN 20:00 + WED 19 JUN 17:00
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
1985
DIRECTOR | STEPHEN FREARS
CAST | DANIEL DAY-LEWIS | GORDON WARNECKE | RITA WOLF
British film-making icon Stephen Frears brings us this delicate tale of two lovers striving for success in a glamorous laundromat in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain. Featuring Daniel Day-Lewis in his first critically acclaimed role, screenwriter Hanif Kureishi received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.
FRI 21 JUN 20:00 + WED 26 JUN 17:00
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
2019
DIRECTOR | CÉLINE SCIAMMA
CAST | ADÈLE HAENEL | NOÉMIE MERLANT
Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of love between two young women: an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait. The film sits at 30th place on the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time List. In French and Italian with English subtitles.
FRI 28 JUN 20:00 + WED 03 JUL 17:00
