Curzon Home Cinema programmer Jade Turner spotlights the films to look out for this month in our curated strand.
Happy New Year from Curzon Home Cinema! We are thrilled to start 2024 with a fantastic line-up in our Curzon Home Cinema Presents… programme. Join us in cinemas or from the comfort of your sofa for four unmissable films from Britain and around the world. This month’s handpicked programme includes a dazzling Mexican drama shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, a sensual queer romance set in a Belgian juvenile detention centre, a breathtaking art documentary from renowned filmmaker Wim Wenders and a striking British debut filled with unforgettable characters. Grab your popcorn and settle in for a month of cinema that is sure to open your eyes to new worlds and new ways of seeing.
The Lost Boys (2023)
The new year begins with The Lost Boys on Wednesday 10 January. Zeno Graton’s lyrical and tender romance follows two teenage boys who fall in love in a juvenile detention centre. Isolated in a remote part of Belgium, Joe (Khalil Gharbia, Peter Von Kant) is about to leave the centre and begin a life of independence, but he is instantly drawn to newcomer William (Jean De Saint Jean, Lie With Me). Their sensual, achingly romantic relationship threatens to derail Joe’s bid for freedom, while putting a modern spin on Jean Genet’s 1950 classic Un Chant d’Amour. Infused with desire and raw emotion, The Lost Boys is not only a remarkable debut for Graton but confirms Gharbia and De Saint Jean as two of European cinema’s fastest rising stars. A must-see for fans of beautiful love stories.
Tótem (2023)
On Tuesday 16 January, Curzon Home Cinema Presents… Tótem. Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards, Lila Avilés’ follow-up to 2019’s The Chambermaid is a wonderful, surprising drama seen through the eyes of seven-year-old Sol (an incredible Naíma Sentíes). Filled with the hustle and bustle of a family preparing a very special birthday party for Sol’s father Tonatiuh (Mateo García Elizondo), Tótem warmly depicts the bonds between mothers and daughters, while leaning into the comic absurdity of quotidian occurrences. As the party draws near, though, it is clear the family are beginning to crack under the pressure of ensuring Tonatiuh’s final birthday is one nobody will forget. Both laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreakingly moving, Tótem is a life-affirming and empathetic gem that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Anselm (2023)
Join us on Tuesday 23 January for Anselm, Wim Wenders’ expressive portrait of one of the world’s greatest contemporary artists, Anselm Kiefer. In a profound experience like no other, Anselm treats us to an exclusive, front-row seat to witness the artist at work. Drawing from Kiefer’s personal history alongside cultural texts, the breathtaking documentary contextualises his life’s work, weaving past and present together in a deep-dive of his phenomenal career spanning five decades. As the camera roams Kiefer’s enormous warehouse filled with art and the objects he uses to make it, it vividly brings to life the artist’s monumental creations, capturing Kiefer as he assembles lead, concrete, glass, textiles, plant material, books and fire into spectacular works of art. Mesmeric and philosophical, Anselm is a compelling exploration of human existence and the cyclical nature of history.
Sweet Sue (2023)
And finally, we cap off the month with Sweet Sue on Tuesday 30 January. In his directorial debut, Leo Leigh follows in his father’s footsteps (the singular Mike Leigh), with a bittersweet comedy-drama about spiky fifty-something Sue (Maggie O’Neill). Back on the dating scene and looking for love, Sue meets mysterious biker Ron (Tony Pitts), at her brother’s funeral. Sparks fly between the pair, but when she meets Ron’s wannabe social-media influencer son Anthony (Harry Trevaldwyn), Sue finds herself in an increasingly surreal battle of wills with this ambitious young man who is convinced his dance troupe Electric Destiny is tipped for stardom. Will she find the purpose and imagination to bring this little unconventional family together for a chance at happiness?
Join us from Wednesday 10 January for Curzon Home Cinema Presents... in cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about February’s line-up.
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