This love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A symphonic love story with sparkling, awards-worthy performances.

Bradley Cooper takes on the triple role of lead actor, director and writer. He wisely eschews the conventional biopic logic of ticking off Bernstein’s career highlights. Instead, ‘Maestro’ zeroes in on his vivid, life-long love affair with Chilean émigré Felicia Montealegre, beautifully played by Carey Mulligan who is the beating heart of the film. ‘Maestro’ digs deep into Bernstein’s music to unleash some of the greatest hits (‘West Side Story,’ ‘On the Waterfront’) and a few lesser-known pieces. A recreation of his legendary performance of Mahler in 1968 just about blows the roof off New York’s St Patrick’s Cathedral. This is a film for cinephiles as well as musos and romantics, with its discrete ‘movements’ mirroring the movie making style of its time frame. Early scenes are filmed in 35mm black-and-white, while Lenny and Felicia’s stormy late 1960s patch is captured in Technicolor. This elegant, ambitious biopic is a love letter to life and art, and at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love. "An absolute marvel." Rolling Stone

USA 2023 Bradley Cooper 129m

Met Opera

This Met premiere stars soprano Ailyn Pérez as Florencia in a new production that brings the mystical realm of the Amazon to the stage. Inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, the opera focuses on opera diva Florencia Grimaldi, who returns to her native Brazil to perform and to search for her lost lover.

Sun 10 Dec 15:15

A riveting tribute to Tyneside photographer Tish Murtha, who lived a life as tough as those she shot in different eras of deprivation and marginalisation.

Tish chronicled working-class lives in the north east in the 1970s and 80s (and also those of Soho sex workers in London), earning for herself the nickname “Demon Snapper” in the papers. In capturing the reality of poverty and deprivation in communities where the misery of unemployment had been allowed to settle by Westminster, Murtha showed her subjects’ humour, optimism and refusal to be cowed – particularly in the faces of children. The film is presented with enormous humanity and warmth by Murtha’s grownup daughter Ella, who is an eerie likeness of her late mother. The centrally important point is that Murtha was not an outsider: she was a part of the people whose lives she recorded.

UK 2023 Paul Sng 90m

Illusions Perdues

After its very popular screenings at the Chichester Film Festival, we present the story of the rise and fall of a young man in Paris, who dreamed of becoming a writer and became a journalist.

In 1821, Lucien de Rubempré arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming with the help of the printing press, widely available of late. Under the mentorship of cynical editor Étienne Lousteau. Lucien agrees to write rave theatre reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. Lost Illusions is sumptuous yet piercing, an expertly plotted social-relations saga of the kind that once typified prestige Hollywood cinema, and it dives into moral quandaries rather than dispensing easy bromides. Cast includes Benjamin Voisin, Cecile De France and Vincent Lacoste. (Subtitles)

France 2021 Xavier Giannoli 150m

In association with Pallant House Gallery and their exhibition ‘John Craxton: A Modern Odyssey’ (28 Oct 2023 to 21 Apr 2024) we present a selection of Greek themed titles over the next four months.

Traveling to inspect an abandoned mine his father owns in Crete, English author Basil (Alan Bates) meets the exuberant peasant Zorba (Anthony Quinn) and invites him along when the older man claims he has mining experience. In Basil's father's old village, he finds himself attracted to a young widow (Irene Papas), and Zorba takes up with the woman who runs their hotel (Lila Kedrova). When things go wrong, Zorba teaches Basil how to enjoy life even under the most trying circumstances.

John Craxton helped to find filming locations for Michael Cacoyannis’ film on the Greek Island of Crete, where he lived in the city of Chania. He remained a life-long friend of Walter Lassally, the film’s Oscar-winning cameraman.

Greece/USA 1964 Michael Cacoyannis 142m

Royal Ballet

Our annual return to the Royal Opera House for its Festive ‘The Nutcracker.’ Join Clara at a delightful Christmas Eve party that becomes a magical adventure once everyone else is tucked up in bed. Marvel at the brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s score, as Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker fight the Mouse King and visit the Sugar Plum Fairy in the glittering Kingdom of Sweets.

Tue 12 Dec 19:15 (Live)

Sun 17 Dec 14:00 (Encore)

La Passion de Dodin Bouffant

This mouthwatering and sensual exercise in haute cuisine and late-flowering romance is set in 1885 and almost totally within the confines of a rustic kitchen in a chateau. This is our closing film of this year’s French Film Festival.

Tran Anh Hùng, the Vietnamese director, now living in France, of ‘The Scent of the Green Papaya’ based the film on the book ‘The Life and Passion of Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet’ by Marcel Rouff. Peerless cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) has worked for the famous gourmet Dodin (Benoît Magimel) for the last 20 years. As time went by, the practice of gastronomy and mutual admiration turned into a romantic relationship. He realises, however, that while he schmoozes the rich and famous in the dining room, she remains in the kitchen but is clearly hugely responsible for his august reputation. There is talk of marriage, but Eugénie values her independence too much in a relationship that she considers should be of equal parts. Both Binoche and Magimel who were together in life for a considerable time, exude an effortless rapport. Chosen as France’s Oscar contender. Warning: Another film like the recent ‘Delicieux’ that should not be seen on an empty stomach! (Subtitles)

France/Belgium 2023 Tran Anh Hùng 134m

The film takes a personal look at Napoleon Bonaparte's origins, and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor viewed through the prism of his addictive, and often volatile, relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine.

TEXT TO COME

USA 2023 Ridley Scott 158m

Joanna Hogg’s (‘The Souvenir’) latest film sees an artist and her elderly mother confront long-buried secrets when they return to a former family home, now a hotel haunted by its mysterious past.

Julie and Rosalind have come to this secluded Welsh locale so the former can work on her new screenplay, incorporating remembrances of the latter’s childhood. Before Moel Famau was a hotel, for a few years it was also Rosalind’s home when she was a little girl. Memories hide around every corner and lurk in all the shadows. Tilda Swinton portrays both Julie and Rosalind, and in a career overflowing with magnificent performances, this may be one of her best. She dives in confidently, creating two distinct characters with their own personalities, histories, and ghosts who all stalk them down the lonely hallways of Moel Famau. As much as mother and daughter have in common, the emotional baggage they carry remains their own, and Swinton brings all this into the piercing, unflinching light with perceptive gracefulness. Acclaimed filmmaker Hogg's beguiling latest film is a brilliant and captivating exploration of parental relationships and the things we leave behind. This will undoubtedly capture the eye of every BAFTA award voter. "A blackly funny exploration of identity." Sight & Sound

UK 2023 Joanna Hogg 96m

Can the greatest romance of your life last only one night? Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke star in this ephemeral and sensual love story.

A chance encounter between two solitary young strangers. After they hit it off on a train bound for Vienna, Paris university student Celine and American tourist Jesse impulsively decide to spend the day together before he returns to the US. As the pair roam the city, Richard Linklater’s tenderly observant gaze captures the uncertainty and intoxication of young love. Capturing an effervescent mixture of the mid-90s, it's a striking, authentic observation of two people experiencing a romantically charged connection which would come to erode and inform the shape of their future.

USA/Austria 1995 Richard Linklater 101m

A hapless family man finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. When his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is an evolutionary biology professor at a small college, in a small town. In a weird dream scenario, Paul starts to appear in people’s dreams. This gets people to notice the nondescript character like they never did before. He reaches a celebrity status when he’s interviewed about this strange occurrence on TV in New York, and becomes comfortable accepting these life changes. This dark satire shows what can happen to someone in today’s cancel culture world when they have a fall-out on social media and their 15 minutes of fame turn rotten. Cage has appeared in over 100 films. In this one, he gives a pleasing uncharacteristic low-key performance instead of his usual over-the-top one. A darkly funny, and often truthful, look at the rapid hysteria of our real-world cancel culture, Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli (‘Sick of Myself’) first English language film helps cement him as a provocative and wildly entertaining voice for our times.

USA 2023 Kristoffer Borgli 100m

This charming animation follows a young girl who wishes on a star and gets a more direct answer than she bargained for when a trouble-making star comes down from the sky to join her.

This brand-new musical-comedy welcomes audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha (Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe - the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) - to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

USA 2023 Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn 92m

The wondrous story of how the world's greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.

Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ Roald Dahl’s most iconic children's book and one of the best-selling children's books of all time. Timothée Chalamet stars in the title role, featuring his early days as an eccentric chocolatier and how he met the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures.

Chalamet and newcomer Calah Lane lead the incredible ensemble cast which includes Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, Simon Farnaby and Hugh Grant.

USA/UK 2023 Paul King

NT Encore

After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish.  Back on British soil, Jack’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own, very particular, terms.

Fri 22 Dec 19:30

Sweet and thoughtful, ‘Jules’ deals with serious topics such as aging and loneliness, but does so in a funny and heartwarming way.

Jules follows Milton (Ben Kingsley) who lives a quiet life of routine in a small western Pennsylvania town, but finds his day upended when a UFO and its extra-terrestrial passenger crash land in his backyard. Before long, Milton develops a close relationship with the extra-terrestrial he calls "Jules." Things become complicated when two neighbours (Harriet Sansom Harris and Jane Curtin) discover Jules and the government quickly closes in. What follows is a funny, wildly inventive ride as the three neighbours find meaning and connection later in life - thanks to this unlikely stranger. This is a compassionate character study that accomplishes a sweet, simple sense of wonder.

USA 2023 Marc Turtletaub 87m

Exhibition on Screen

This is an exquisitely rich film that delves into the detail and passion surrounding Gustav Klimt’s iconic artwork as well as revealing the scandalous life of the artist himself. Painted in Vienna around 1908, the evocative image of an unknown embracing couple has captivated viewers with its mystery, sensuality and dazzling materials ever since it was created.

Mon 30 Oct 18:15

Tue 31 Oct 16:00

Thu 2 Nov 13:45

Our Powell & Pressburger focus continues with this story of a young ballet dancer who is torn between the man she loves and her pursuit to become a prima ballerina.

In this classic drama, Vicky Page (Moira Shearer) is an aspiring ballerina torn between her dedication to dance and her desire to love. While her imperious instructor, Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), urges to her to forget anything but ballet, Vicky begins to fall for the charming young composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring). Eventually Vicky, under great emotional stress, must choose to pursue either her art or her romance, a decision that carries serious consequences. ‘The Red Shoes’ is the greatest film about ballet ever made, blending multiple moods and styles with balletic grace. It is also one of the best-looking movies ever made, with unequalled Technicolor photography from Jack Cardiff.

USA 1948 Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger 135m

Sign up for the next CineCircle to discuss films seen at New Park.

Choose a warming drink, a glass of wine or beer at Brasserie Blanc.

TICKETS ARE FREE, but bookings are essential as we have limited numbers.

Brasserie Blanc, Chichester

40th Anniversary Remaster

Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre in December of 1983. Newly restored in 4K to coincide with its 40th anniversary.

Sat 14 Oct 20:30

In Aardman Animation’s eagerly awaited second instalment of the ‘Chicken Run’ franchise, Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) welcome a new little adventurer into their lives.

Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy's farm, Ginger has finally found her dream - a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly (Bella Ramsey, ‘The Last of Us’), Ginger's happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk - this time, they're breaking in. Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson and Miranda Richardson return as Babs, Bunty, Mac, and Mrs. Tweedy.

UK/USA/France  2023 Sam Fell 97m

Kuolleet Lehdet

Two lonely people who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night try to find the first love of their lives. Aki Kaurismäki’s deadpan comedy has received a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes film critics’ website!

Ansa (Alma Pöysti) and Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) meet each other by chance in a Helsinki bar, immediately gravitating towards each other, united by an underlying desire for togetherness and meaningful human interaction. Their path towards the honourable goal of finding the love of their lives is clouded by life's general tendency to place obstacles in the way of those seeking their happiness. Every bit as funny as it is sad, ‘Fallen Leaves’ finds glimmers of humour and hope in moments of tragedy. Finnish master Kaurismäki produces a soft-spoken and mordant comedy every six years or so and never, ever misses the mark. Even by his high standards, this gentle tragicomedy is close to perfect. "A tragicomedy that glimmers like a jewel." The Hollywood Reporter  

Finland 2023 Aki Kaurismäki 81m

Anselm - Das Rauschen der Zeit

German cult director Wim Wenders (‘Wings of Desire,’ ‘Paris, Texas’) details the work of his friend and immensely talented artist Anselm Kiefer.

Taking us on a journey through Kiefer's stations of life and places of creation, Wenders guides us behind the scenes and into the conceptual world of an artist who has been exploring the human condition and the cyclical nature of history through a wide range of themes and motifs inspired by literature and poetry, history, philosophy, science, mythology and religion. This unique cinematic experience dives deep into Kiefer's oeuvre, bringing together the strings of a career spanning more than five decades between his native country Germany and France, his creative home today. Kiefer’s past and present diffuse the line between film and painting, thus giving a unique cinematic experience that dives deep into an artist's work and reveals his life path. (Some subtitles)

Germany 2023 Wim Wenders 93m

NT Live

Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy feature in this Olivier-award winning production of David Hare’s hard-hitting tale of love, passion and ideology. Bill Nighy is superb, and Carey Mulligan gives a performance of extraordinarily contained power.

Thu 16 Nov 19:45

Sun 19 Nov 17:45

Berlin Philharmonic

The Berliner Philharmoniker traditionally bid farewell to 2023 with a gala on 31 December. You can expect popular virtuoso pieces, dazzling new discoveries, celebrity guests and an incomparable festive atmosphere.

Sun 31 Dec 16:00 (LIVE)

Chlopi

Using an advanced oil painting animation technique, this is a visually thrilling rendering of Władysław Reymont’s Nobel Prize-winning tale. From the makers of ‘Loving Vincent.’ “A ravishingly beautiful visual triumph.” Hollywood Reporter. (Subtitles)

Poland 2023 DK Welchman & Hugh Welchman 114m

A woman's friendship with a new colleague at the youth prison facility where she works takes an unexpected turn.

Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie, ‘Jojo Rabbit’) is a peculiar young woman - aloof and unfazed by the gloomy nature of her job at the local youth prison. But something in her changes the day that the new counsellor, Dr. Rebecca St. John (Anne Hathaway) arrives. She is instantly captivated by Rebecca's glamorous, enigmatic presence. As the two women grow closer, Eileen is inspired to explore new facets of her own personality and desires. But her metamorphosis takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret - throwing Eileen onto a much more sinister path. The tension and suspense Hathaway and McKenzie create together is worthy of obsession. ‘Eileen’ proves to be continuously engaging and flourishing with technical talent. "A wildly audacious, wonderfully twisted period psychodrama." Variety

USA 2023 William Oldroyd 97m

In the summer of 2014 - the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings - octogenarian Bernie Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He'd staged a "great escape" from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world - Bernie seemed to embody the defiant, "can-do" spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. Bernie's adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Irene (Glenda Jackson).

Met Opera

Ancient Babylon comes to life in a classic Met staging of biblical proportions. ‘Nabucco’ is an Italian-language opera (subtitled) in four acts composed in 1841 by Giuseppe Verdi.

Baritone George Gagnidze makes his Met role debut as the imperious king Nabucco, alongside Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska reprising her thrilling turn as his vengeful daughter Abigaille. Mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova and tenor SeokJong Baek, in his company debut, are Fenena and Ismaele, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy repeats his celebrated portrayal of the high priest Zaccaria. Daniele Callegari conducts Verdi’s early masterpiece, which features the ultimate showcase for the great Met Chorus, the moving “Va, Pensiero.”

185m inc interval

Tickets £21

Sun 7 Jan 13:45