Exhibition on Screen

The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this Renaissance giant?

Michelangelo’s genius is evident in everything he touched. Beautiful and diverse works such as the towering statue of David, the moving Pietà in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter and his tour-de-force, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, still leave us breathless today. Spanning his 88 years, we take a cinematic journey through the print and drawing rooms of Europe through the great chapels and museums of Florence, Rome and the Vatican to seek out a deeper understanding of this legendary figure’s tempestuous life, his relationship with his contemporaries and his incredible legacy. Through expert commentary, stunning visuals and Michelangelo’s own words, this film takes a fresh look at a master artist whose life and genius are celebrated in every mark he made. Returning to cinemas in 2025 to celebrate the 550th anniversary of this iconic artist’s birth.

UK 2016 David Bickerstaff 90m

Tickets £15

One of the most eye-opening, chilling, fascinating and frightening documentaries of the year, exploring Leni Riefenstahl's artistic legacy and her complex ties to the Nazi regime.

It was at the (Mussolini-era) Venice Film Festival in 1938 that Riefenstahl scooped the top prize for ‘Olympia’, her sublime, suspect paean to the Berlin Olympics. Her career peaked, after which it plunged dramatically. Veiel’s film shows how it happened, and how she tried and failed to salvage her reputation, juxtaposing her self-portrayal with evidence suggesting awareness of the regime's atrocities. This is a captivating insight into the private estate of the filmmaker, who became world-famous with her Nazi propaganda film ‘Triumph of the Will’. (Some subtitles)

USA 2024 Andres Veiel 115m

Based on a remarkable true story, discover how the poor son of a miner became one of the greatest actors the world has ever known – Richard Burton, with the help of an unlikely mentor.

In the Welsh town of Port Talbot, 1942, Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) lives as a wayward schoolboy, caught between the pressures of his struggling family, a devastating war, and his own ambitions. However, a new opportunity arises when Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton (Toby Jones). Taking Richard under his wing, the young man thrives under Philip’s strict tutelage and the guidance of kindly landlady, Ma Smith (Lesley Manville). However, as the acting world comes within Richard’s reach, the burden of his past risks holding him back forever.

UK 2025 Marc Evans 123m

In this critical and very funny look at who the entertainment industry excludes over time, a stranger crashes a party, sparking a comedy of errors and a reordering of life.

One night in the Hollywood Hills, Rose (Elizabeth Reaser) and Sammy (Walton Goggins) are in the thick of those agonizing final minutes before her garden party starts, the last thing Rose wants to see is a confused elderly woman, Helen (Lois Smith), pulling into her driveway insisting that the Hollywood mansion is actually her house. Rose feels an obligation to get Helen home safely, but Sammy is distracted by the onslaught of Hollywood stars rolling up to the house. Things become even more complicated when her old flame Lucien (Pedro Pascal) shows up, and as drinks flow and secrets spill, ambition and identity clash in a sharp, unhinged look at a world obsessed with youth and fame. Enough good things cannot be said of this spectacular cast who bring their characters to life with precision and intriguing fascination.

USA 2024 Nadia Conners 97m