Wim Wenders’ beguiling Tokyo-set drama is a poignant, warm-hearted portrait of a Tokyo toilet cleaner, played by Cannes Best Actor prize-winner Koji Yakusho.

Hirayama (a captivating performance by Yakusho) lives a life of quiet routine. He goes to work, eats in the same cafe every day and buys second-hand books at the weekend. Wenders’ empathetic portrait gradually draws us into this world, one in which the tiniest details add to the richness of a simple and decent life. With a soundtrack featuring Lou Reed and Patti Smith, this is a gorgeous hymn to humanity and to finding meaning in the everyday.

Alex Garland anticipates a civil war in the United States. In the midst of a North American presidential election year that could see Donald Trump re-elected, and in a climate of high tension and social mistrust in Uncle Sam's country - the assault on the Capitol is not so far off - the British director unveils a future that may be closer than it seems.

To tell the story of this fractured America, Civil War follows three Reuters photo-reporters who bear witness to the situation through their photographs. In a veritable throwback to the American Civil War, Texas and California, allied with Florida, the dissident army of the West, clash with the other government-backed, army-held states. From New York, the three journalists(Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Stephen Henderson) attempt to reach the front line in Charlottesville at all costs, 1300km from their starting point, then on to Washington DC, where the President is holed up in the White House.

WARNING: This film CIVIL WAR contains a sequence of flashing lights which might affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy’

 

Filmmaker Thomas Pickering has never eaten meat.

Born in the 1980’s and raised vegetarian, before switching to a vegan diet, Tom’s always believed he’s been doing right by the animals, his own health, and - more recently - the planet. Despite this he still can’t go a day without hearing from others why they could never go vegan. From “where do you get your protein” and “soya is killing the rainforests” to “vegan food is expensive” and “climate change doesn’t exist”, he’s heard it all. With no sign of these arguments against his lifestyle choice going away, Tom sets out on a quest to investigate the many reasons he’s heard over the years, and see if they’re unjustified, or whether his upbringing was one big plant based con.

On his journey Tom tracks down several top athletes, witnessing world records, championship successes and an 84-year-old taking part in his sixth ultra-marathon. He speaks to doctors, environmental scientists, psychologists and chefs. He follows investigative journalists and activists as he goes undercover into factory farms, where he learns the A Rating awarded to the UK for its farming practise isn’t what it seems.

At the end of it all, Tom tries to piece together this complex picture as he finds a clear link between the way we treat animals, the effect it has on our planet, and our own health.

BAFTA-nominated and critically acclaimed for her 2019 psychological horror Saint Maud, British director Rose Glass returns with a queer love story and thriller set in small-town America, Love Lies Bleeding.

Kristen Stewart stars as reclusive gym manager Lou, who falls hard for Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder passing through town en route to pursuing her dreams in Las Vegas. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family – led by her father (a tanned, taciturn Ed Harris, sporting a truly chilling hairstyle) – and threatening disaster.

With a wider ensemble cast including Jena Malone, Dave Franco and Anna Baryshnikov, Love Lies Bleeding promises to be a passionate romance and an electric thriller fuelled by ego, desire, and the American dream.

Zendaya plays a romantically challenged tennis pro in the new ménage à trois sports drama from Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, I Am Love, Bones and All, A Bigger Splash), co-starring Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. One of the most feverishly anticipated films of 2024 (especially after its delayed release following the 2023 US actors’ strikes), Challengers is scripted by playwright Justin Kuritzkes (Guadagnino’s repeat collaborator on the upcoming Queer), sound-tracked by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and promises to be a punchy, sensationally watchable blend of romance, comedy, tennis and high drama, both on and off court.

Zendaya is Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy-turned-coach and a force of nature. Married to Art, a champion on a losing streak (Faist), Tashi’s coaching strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when she signs him up for a ‘Challenger’ match against the washed-up Patrick (O’Connor) – Art’s ex-best friend, and Tashi’s former lover. As the trio reunite, memories of their youthful love triangle arise and new feelings of jealousy, lust and betrayal come to the fore. Tashi must ask herself: what will it cost her to win?

From the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Given complete and unprecedented access to the treasures of Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum, this is a major film about one of the world’s favourite artists.

This film provides viewers with the moving and inspiring experience of seeing Vincent’s iconic masterpieces close-up on the screen and presents new insights and interpretations by specially invited guests including V. Willem van Gogh great grandson of Theo van Gogh and contemporary artist Lachlan Goudie.

Vincent’s illuminating letters to his family and friends are brought to life by dramatisation which puts flesh on the bones of new biography. Recent research question the many myths surrounding Vincent’s troubled life.

We look closely at the life of a man who reminds us that, “Art is long and life is short.”

“A revolutionary ‘gallery’ experience” – Canberra Times

“Paintings shown in breath-taking detail” – Daily Mail

Screening to coincide with a major forthcoming exhibition at The National Gallery from September 2024

Following on from his acclaimed features SHOPLIFTERS and BROKER, Hirokazu Kore-eda presents us with another poetic, humanist drama. There is some kind of darkness surrounding 11-year-old Minato (Soya Kurokawa). As his behaviour begins to shift at school, his mum Saori (Sakura Ando) confronts his teachers in order to discover the truth. Using the 'RASHOMON' parallel timeline technique, we watch the series of events unfold from different perspectives, broadening our considerations on what might have happened, but holding its final secret until the end.

The film was also awarded the Best Screenplay at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

The Taste of Things is a delectable cinematic journey set in late 19th-century France, unraveling the intricate relationship between Dodin Bouffant, as the preeminent chef, and Eugénie, his devoted personal cook. Over time, their professional collaboration evolves into a tender romance, marked by extraordinary culinary creations that captivate the world's top chefs. However, Eugénie hesitates to commit romantically, prompting Dodin to embark on an unprecedented culinary venture: cooking for her. As Dodin endeavors to express his love through gastronomic artistry, the film explores the profound connection between the characters. Each dish becomes a symbolic gesture in Dodin's pursuit of Eugénie's heart, leading to emotionally charged and beautifully crafted culinary moments.

We are delighted that following our screening on the 20th May local renowned chef, Vernon Blackmore (The Table, The Anchor) will be reproducing a menu inspired by dishes from the film in our restaurant and there will be a limited number of 50 spaces available for you take up this offer at £50 for a three-course dinner which includes a film ticket. All other tickets at general admission prices.

Menu for screening on 20th May by Vernon Blackmore:

Salade Lyonnaise

Pork and Gressingham Duck cassoulet

Île Flottante or Tarte au Citron

Vegetarian/Vegan alternatives available on the day.

King Leontes is increasingly overpowered by unfounded jealousy, believing his pregnant wife Hermione to be having an affair with his childhood friend King Polixenes. Leontes's actions tear the two friends' families apart across generations. Hermione’s baby daughter is abandoned and Hermione is believed to have died of distress. But the baby Perdita is rescued by a shepherd, and grows up to fall in love with Florizel, son of Polixenes. The young couple is reunited with the remorseful Leontes, and Hermione is miraculously returned to life.

Christopher Wheeldon, Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, created his adaptation of Shakespeare’s late romance The Winter’s Tale for The Royal Ballet in 2014. It received ecstatic praise at its premiere, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for its intelligent and emotionally powerful storytelling through exquisite dance. With striking designs by Bob Crowley and atmospheric music by Joby Talbot, The Winter’s Tale is widely considered a modern ballet classic

The story follows the destruction of a marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child, and a seemingly hopeless love. Yet, through remorse and regret – and the apparent miracle of a statue coming to life – the ending is uplifting as it brings forgiveness and reconciliation. The two lands between which the drama unfolds are vividly portrayed in movement, sound and image. The Sicilia of King Leontes grows in threatening coolness and darkness, while the Bohemia of King Polixenes is a pastoral idyll of lyricism and sun-saturated colour.

Cast: TBC

Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon

Music: Joby Talbot

For the first time in almost a decade, comedy icon Jack Black returns to his role as Po, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master, with a hilarious, butt-kicking new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved action-comedy franchise: Kung Fu Panda 4.

After three death-defying adventures, Po is called upon by destiny to relax a little: he's tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. But Po's no spiritual leader (and he's got to find a replacement, Dragon Warrior too), so an unlikely team-up with quick-witted thief Zhen (Awkwafina) puts him on the road for another fun-filled quest.

Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?

Having left the business a to focus on both his physical and mental health, Colt is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie, being directed by his ex Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), goes missing.

While the film’s ruthless producer (Hannah Waddington) maneuvers to keep the disappearance of star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film’s most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody’s good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.

Inspired by the hit 1980s TV series, The Fall Guy also stars Winston Duke (Black Panther franchise, Us) and Academy Award® nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once).

Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play.

1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s exacting direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel.

Written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and designed by Es Devlin (The Crucible), the Evening Standard award-winning best new play was filmed live during a sold-out run at the National Theatre.

★★★★★ ‘A brilliant, compassionate new play’ (Financial Times)

★★★★★ ‘Immaculately directed by Sam Mendes’ (Times)

★★★★★ ‘Mark Gatiss gives the performance of his career’ (Telegraph)

★★★★★ ‘Smooth and sophisticated’ (WhatsOnStage)

★★★★ ‘Will give you goosebumps’ (Independent)

In Sudan, cinema is a thing of the past, but four directors and lifelong friends refuse to accept it. They learned their art abroad—one of them is jokingly referred to as the Sudanese Eisenstein by the others. With their Sudanese film club, the men struggle to keep their film culture alive. Much of their work has been lost, but a few excerpts are included in the documentary.

To introduce others to the magic of film, they decide to rent a dilapidated old open-air cinema for a big free screening. But how do you do this in a country where there are power cuts, you lack the equipment and infrastructure, and the call to prayer blares out from mosques on all sides? “How did we used to do it?” they wonder, laughing. Then they realize that there didn’t used to be a call to prayer. Sudan’s repressive and violent history remains in the background, but film is clearly still out of favor with the regime. Nevertheless, the men remain hopeful.

Screening as part of our year-long season - CINEMA ON SCREEN

It's time for another one of our popular Film Quizzes! The last three sold out very quickly so don't delay in booking a team space!

James King from BBC Radio, ITV and Sky will be quiz master along with our manager, Neil, live on stage asking the questions to test your knowledge of film, and they'll be giving prizes to the winning team.

Following the success of using the screen last time we are going to run a clips round again this time again too!

Teams can include up to a maximum of 6 people or minimum of 2, but team entry price regardless is £10 - a maximum of 17 teams allowed.

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Winner of both the 2024 Oscar and BAFTA for Best Documentary

An AP team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only international reporters who remain in the city, they capture what later become defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more.

After nearly a decade covering international conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, for The Associated Press, 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL is Mstyslav Chernov’s first feature film. The film draws on Chernov’s daily news dispatches and personal footage of his own country at war. It offers a vivid, harrowing account of civilians caught in the siege, as well as a window into what it’s like to report from a conflict zone, and the impact of such journalism around the globe.

The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive.  

Message In A Bottle is a spectacular dance-theatre show from five-time Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince, inspired by and set to the iconic hits of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting, including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Walking On The Moon and more. With a mix of exhilarating dance styles, high-energy footwork and breath-taking athleticism, Message In A Bottle tells a unifying and uplifting story of humanity and hope.

Message In A Bottle is the latest masterpiece from the ground-breaking creator behind West End hits Some Like it Hip Hop, Into the Hoods, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (choreography) and SYLVIA (Old Vic), and features the astonishing talents of dance storytelling powerhouse, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company.

Cast: TBC

Choreography: Kate Prince Music: based on the songs of Sting

Dev Patel shines in his directorial debut with 'Monkey Man,' alongside producer Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us).

Kid (Dev Patel), a young man ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club. Night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he's beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

After years of childhood trauma and suppressed rage, Kid (Patel) is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage. He discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city's sinister elite, and sets out on a journey to hunt down a group of corrupt leaders who took everything from him and continue to systematically victimize the poor and powerless. His quest for vengeance and attempt of exacting revenge soon makes him become the savior of the poor and powerless people, who are tormented by the corrupt leaders.

In a wily and charismatic star turn, Glen Powell plays straight-laced philosophy professor Gary Johnson, who moonlights as an undercover hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. Preternaturally gifted at inhabiting different guises and personalities to catch hapless people hoping to bump off their enemies, Gary begins to descend into morally dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to one of those potential criminals, a young woman named Madison (Adria Arjona)—setting off a chain reaction of play-acting and false selves.

Richard Linklater’s peppy sunlit neo-noir is a continually surprising delight: co-written by Linklater and Powell, it’s a cleverly existential comedy about identity that deepens in meaning as it escalates in absurdity

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE AT WOODBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTRE

SpongeBob SquarePants is the musical adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. We find ourselves in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, inhabited by happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. SpongeBob’s pleasant existence is abruptly interrupted when it is discovered that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, will erupt within the next 48 hours and completely obliterate Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob, trying to prove to himself and the world that he is not “just a simple sponge,” resolves to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope. SpongeBob SquarePants features an eclectic score of music, each song having been written by a different musical artist with the purposes of recreating the type of musical hodgepodge exhibited by the original television series.

 Nickelodeon™  

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH EDITION

Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg  

Book by Kyle Jarrow

Original Songs by: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I.

And Songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley

Additional Lyrics by Jonathan Coulton

Additional Music by Tom Kitt

Musical Production Conceived by Tina Landau  

©2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.  

This amateur production of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH EDITION is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

In the town of Twin Peaks, everybody has their secrets—but no one more than Laura Palmer. In this prequel to his groundbreaking 1990s television series, David Lynch resurrects the teenager found wrapped in plastic at the beginning of the show, following her through the last week of her life and teasing out the enigmas that surround her murder. Homecoming queen by day and drug-addicted thrill seeker by night, Laura leads a double life that pulls her deeper and deeper into horror as she pieces together the identity of the assailant who has been terrorizing her for years. Nightmarish in its vision of an innocent torn apart by unfathomable forces, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is nevertheless one of Lynch’s most humane films, aching with compassion for its tortured heroine—a character as enthralling in life as she was in death.

Screening as part of our year-long retrospective - Dreaming of Darkness: The Films of David Lynch

A truly scandalous tale from the 1920s. Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley reunite playing neighbours who get on each other’s nerves in this pitch-dark comedy following a small English town where residents start receiving anonymous, expletive-laden letters!

Edith Swan (Colman) a pious pillar of the community just so happens to be on the receiving end of these character assassination mail drops. Law enforcement reluctantly investigate but Edith harbours a theory that her neighbour Rose (Buckley) might be the culprit.

Rose is the opposite of Edith, loud and brash, and when police arrest Edith assuming guilt due to her “loose moral character,” it does not sit well with Police Officer Gladys Moss and with superiors unwilling to listen, she gathers a group of resourceful female volunteers to get to the bottom of this mailout mystery.

This post marked whodunnit is fuelled by the stellar cast, including razor sharp turns from Colman and Buckley with support by Timothy Spall, the narrative offers astute commentary on misogyny, hypocrisy, and repression while delivering a profoundly stifling social commentary that is brimming with blush worthy curse words and purse clutching performances.

Please note this film is being screened as part of the Woodbridge Film Society's 2023/2024 season and is therefore not open to the general public. You can read more about becoming a member here.

Manuela Martelli places the viewer in a historical moment fraught with anxiety: the early years of Augusto Pinochet’s regime in Chile. Her narrative presents Pinochet’s oppressive reign from the unusual and surprising perspective of Carmen (a superb Aline Küppenheim), an upper-middle-class woman whose life begins to unravel after local priest Father Sánchez (Hugo Medina) implores her to use her summer beach house, under renovation, to hide an injured young man (Nicolás Sepúlveda) whom she comes to suspect is a victim of political persecution. As Carmen descends into danger, she experiences a gradual moral awakening. Martelli’s film is a taut, evocative, and impressively assured depiction of the inescapable, ever-tightening noose of patriarchal, governmental dictatorship and how its effects gradually bleed into our everyday experiences.

Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS.

Confronted with death, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill.

Written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris (Small Island), this epic new Welsh fantasia will be broadcast live from the National Theatre.

A celebration of the most iconic – and much missed – homegrown star of the 21st century, BACK TO BLACK tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse. Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, BACK TO BLACK honours Amy’s artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent. Featuring many of Amy’s hit songs recorded and performed in the film by Marisa Abela, BACK TO BLACK is made with the full support of Universal Music Group and SONY Music Publishing.

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music. Produced in partnership with the Marley family and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the legendary musician and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita,

Beautifully shot in both CinemaScope and 16mm, Glastonbury the Movie (in Flashback) (2012) puts audiences right in the middle of the world’s greatest music festival. Robin has recreated his original 1995 film from scratch, moving sequences around, improving the sound and visuals and adding over thirty minutes of compelling unseen material.

Alongside Robin’s film we’ll also be screening Avalon - A Field in Glastonbury (1999) by Woodbridge legend, Carl Stickley! Carl says, “In 1999 I went to Glastonbury with friends and filmed the Avalon Field. Avalon is as close to the proper old skool Glastonbury Festivals as you can get in the modern Corporate Monster age. “

We are delighted that both Robin and Carl will be joining us on the night for a talk all things Glastonbury!

Returning to Cinemas for its 20th Anniversary!

Now 13, Harry Potter and chums are back off to Hogwarts, only to find that a dangerous escaped prisoner is also heading back to school. Soon nasty prison guards called Dementors have taken up residence in the school grounds and Harry is warned that the prisoner is coming for him…

All Tickets £5.00

The National Gallery of London is one of the world’s greatest art galleries. It is full of masterpieces, an endless resource of history, an endless source of stories. But whose stories are told? Which art has the most impact and on whom? The power of great art lies in its ability to communicate with anyone, no matter their art historical knowledge, their background, their beliefs.

This film gives voice to those who work at the gallery – from cleaner to curator, security guard to director – who identify the one artwork that means the most to them and why. An assortment of people from all walks of life who have a strong connection to the gallery make surprising choices of both well-known and lesser-known artworks. Finally, some well-known celebrities explain what they head for when they visit the gallery.

These stories are used as a lens through which to explore the 200-year history of the National Gallery and what the future may hold for this spectacular space.

Everyone in this film has a special connection to the National Gallery, making for some heart-warming, moving and surprising stories.

Beloved celebrities, devoted staff members and world class experts come together to paint a unique portrait of this iconic British institution for its 200th birthday.

Billy Connolly is at the peak of his powers in this newly restored and rediscovered film.

Capturing 'The Big Yin' on and off stage during his 1975 tour of Ireland, Big Banana Feet is a captivating record of Connolly on the cusp of international stardom.

Inspired by the fly-on-the-wall style of DA Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary Dont Look Back, director Murray Grigor and cinematographer David Peat present Connolly at his beguiling best, using humour and charm to successfully navigate the political tensions of 1970s Dublin and Belfast.

Featuring iconic stand-up material alongside fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses, this previously elusive milestone of British comedy is now newly restored in 2K (from original 16mm materials), reaffirming the genius that has endeared Connolly to generations of fans.

Capturing a year in the life of a rural, lakeside community in 1980s Ireland, That They May Face The Rising Sun is a sensitive and beautifully realised adaptation of the last novel by John McGahern. It’s directed by Pat Collins, who (in addition to more recent films like The Dance and Song of Granite) previously made a 2005 documentary about McGahern’s life and work.

Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate (Anna Bederke) have returned from London to live and work in a small, close-knit community in rural Ireland, close to where Joe grew up. He’s a writer, she’s an artist and photographer who retains part ownership of a London gallery. Now embedded in a remote lakeside setting, the drama of a year in their lives and those of their neighbours unfolds through the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons.

Collins has crafted a delicate, meditative exploration of ritual, community bonds, and the question of how best to live. A quietly stunning adaptation of a book by a writer concerned with the ways Irish lives were changing and modernising in the 20th century, with gorgeous scenery filmed on the shore of Loch Na Fooey in County Galway.

Returning for its 25th Anniversary!

After the Oscar-winning The English Patient, writer/director Anthony Minghella attempted another tricky literary adaptation with The Talented Mr. Ripley, which features heartthrob Matt Damon cast against type as a psychopathic bisexual murderer.

Tom Ripley (Damon) is a bright and charismatic sociopath who makes his way in mid-'50s New York City as a men's room attendant and sometimes pianist, though his real skill is in impersonating other people, forging handwriting, and running second-rate scams. After being mistaken for a Princeton student, Tom meets the shipping tycoon father of Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), who has traveled to the coast of Italy, where he's living a carefree life with his father's money and his beautiful girlfriend, Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Dickie's father will pay Ripley 1,000 dollars plus his expenses if he can persuade Dickie to return to America. As Ripley and Dickie become friends, Tom finds himself both attracted to Dickie and envious of his life of pleasure. In time, he decides that he would rather be Dickie Greenleaf than Tom Ripley, so rather than go back to his life of poverty, Ripley impulsively murders Dickie and assumes his identity.

The Talented Mr. Ripley was based on the first of a series of novels featuring Tom Ripley written by Patricia Highsmith; the story was previously filmed in 1960 as Purple Noon, with Alain Delon as Ripley.

The poet Andrea Chénier attends a party at the Countess di Coigny's mansion. He expresses outrage at the corruption in King Louis XVI's government and the poverty of many Frenchmen. This moves the Countess's daughter Maddalena, and inspires the footman and revolutionary-in-the-making Carlo Gérard to quit his servitude. Soon after, the French Revolution begins.

Five years on, Louis XVI has been executed, the Jacobin party are in power, and their leader Robespierre has imposed 'The Terror'. Gérard has become a leading Jacobin, but Chénier has fallen out of favour with the authorities and is in danger. He delays his flight from Paris to meet a mysterious woman who has written to him. She reveals herself to be Maddalena, and the pair quickly realize they are in love. However, Gérard also desires Maddalena. When Chénier is arrested by the authorities, Gérard realizes that he has the power to destroy the man who once inspired him. As his conscience is tested, so too is the love of Andrea and Maddalena.

At a glittering party in 18th-century Paris, the poet Andréa Chenier delivers an impassioned denunciation of Louis XVI. Five years later, the Revolution has given way to the Terror, transforming the power balance between Chénier, his beloved Maddalena, and Gérard, the man who could destroy him...

Jonas Kaufmann headlines David McVicar’s spectacular staging, under the baton of long-time collaborator Antonio Pappano – who conducts Giordano’s epic historical drama of revolution and forbidden love in his last production as Music Director of The Royal Opera.

Cast: Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanovsky, Amartuvshin Enkhbat

Conductor: Antonio Pappano

Director: David McVicar