Back in November, we sent our Cinema Programming Assistant Ethan to Nottingham’s great independent cinema Broadway for a weekend of cinema previews thanks to the Independent Cinema Office. Here are his thoughts on the films to see in 2025!
A Real Pain
Dir. Jesse Eisenberg
Starring. Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin
When you can see it: Friday 24 January – Thursday 6 February
Following the death of their grandmother, a refugee from Poland in the Second World War, cousins David and Benji leave their New York lives behind to join a Polish tour group and reconnect with their grandmother’s heritage.
Whilst the two grew up as brothers, their differing personalities and lifestyles have pushed them apart. David, a sensible family man filled with anxiety, and Benji, a confident free spirit capable of ruining any family dinner, are the oil and water characters we know just don’t mix, but you can never give up hope. Both are performed exquisitely, neither straying hugely from the work of either’s past, but each fresh enough to remind you why they deserve their space at the forefront of American cinema.
With just a 90-minute runtime, tonnes of laugh out loud moments, and deeply moving conversations about what it means to ‘look back at the holocaust’ to different people, A Real Pain is a perfect road movie.
September 5
Dir. Tim Fehlbaum
Starring. Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin
When can you see it: In our February programme!
The 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack was watched live by over 700 million people thanks to ABC’s Sports Crew. September 5 tells their story. From questionable gunshot sounds in the night heard by a skeleton crew, to sneaking film equipment through blockades in the Olympic village, the film chronicles what it took, in a world new to live television, to deliver the shocking images globally.
Whilst for many there will be few twists or turns as the events play out accurately, the script instead focuses its efforts on questioning the responsibility of the producers, and their role in promoting terrorism. Not to mention the continuation of Jewish blood being spilled in Germany, on what was their first Olympics since World War II.
September 5 is not necessarily a ground-breaking film, but it’s confidently constructed and hosts an ensemble cast that each carry the gravitas of the moment with ease. At times it feels as though September 5 is trying to do for live television what Spotlight did for investigative journalism, and whilst I don’t think it quite achieves this, it’s not a bad target to fall short of.
The Brutalist
Dir. Brady Cobert
Starring. Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce
When can you see it: Q1 2025
Whilst A Real Pain may have appealed to some for its 90-minute runtime, The Brutalist’s mammoth 215-minutes may seem a bit of a stretch. But for those aiming to keep up with this year’s awards season contenders, here is one of the front runners.
When brutalist architect László Toth departs from war torn Hungary, he is arriving in America not knowing if his wife Erzsébet lives, and whether his new home will accept him. Charting decades of his life in America working across labour industries before being commissioned for work by a prominent industrialist, this dramatic epic aims to embody the immigrant experience in full.
Adrien Brody delivers what I expect to become the most memorable performance of 2025. Early on in a brief exchange with László’s cousin, Brody lights a fire of anger and passion within the audience that he breathes more life into with every passing scene. The return of Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce to major roles is also a welcome sight, each complimenting or contrasting Brody effortlessly.
Whilst some may see it as a test of patience, The Brutalist never overstayed its welcome with me and the clever use of the film’s interval even added to the charm and intelligence of Brady Cobert’s filmmaking.
Architechton
Dir. Victor Kossakovsky
When you can see it: Q1 2025
Now a documentary to look forward to! Have you ever looked at a stone or a boulder and dreamt of its journey to its current shape and location? If so, Architecton is the experience for you. Following rocks down mountains and into production lines, Kossakovsky and prolific Architect Michele de Lucchi question civilisations use of materials, and the influence of concrete on modern life.
This certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you can sit with a simple image and powerful soundtrack for long stretches, you’ll find something here.
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