Cinematic Odysseys on 35mm

Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated ancient Greek epic The Odyssey docks at Watershed in July, with select shows playing from a freshly struck 35mm print. To tee things up, we’ll be screening a selection of bold, sweeping cinematic odysseys on several Sundays leading up to the release – all on 35mm.

We’re bringing back an under-appreciated highlight from earlier this year, The Testament of Ann Lee – Mona Fastvold’s ambitious chronicle of the life and times of one of the founders of the Shakers religious sect, following her on an evangelising mission crossing the seas from Manchester to New England in pre-revolutionary America. With a brilliant, committed performance from Amanda Seyfried in the title role and a chanting score composed by experimental musician Daniel Blumberg, it’s a film that completely sweeps you up in its movement.

Next up is a stone-cold classic with Ridley Scott’s original Gladiator (2000), which arguably revived the ailing genre of the historical epic with its sure pacing, impressive choreography and breathtaking recreation of Ancient Rome. It’s a proper crowd-pleaser, anchored by a tough and authoritative turn from Russell Crowe as Maximus, opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s equally impressive performance as the coldly cruel and volatile Emperor.

And finally another appearance from Crowe in Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – the tale of a brash English captain pursuing a French war vessel across the seas during the Napoleonic wars.

These are films of pure scale and epic storytelling that deserve to be watched on the big screen – so join us for an odyssey through film on film this summer.

Please note that the screenings in this Sunday season start at 16:30 instead of the usual 14:00 time.

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