Curzon Home Cinema programmer Jade Turner spotlights the films to look out for this month in our curated strand.
We have a wonderful line-up of inspiring films to share with you this February. Whether you’re joining us in cinemas or getting comfortable on your sofa, experience four of the very best independent films from Britain and around the world as part of our Curzon Home Cinema Presents… strand. This month’s handpicked programme spotlights one of the year’s hottest awards titles, while celebrating LGBT+ History Month, with a gripping erotic thriller, emotional personal drama and an unforgettable documentary that boldly asks you to challenge your preconceptions. Book ahead for a month of cinema that promises to open your eyes to new worlds and new ways of seeing.
Femme (2023)
On Tuesday 6 February, Curzon Home Cinema Presents… Femme, the sensational feature debut from writer-directors Sam H Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett stars as Jules, a celebrated London drag artist, who is brutally attacked outside one of his shows. Traumatised, he retreats from the world, but months later spots his attacker, Preston (George McKay), in a gay sauna. Unrecognisable without make-up, Jules approaches Preston and begins an affair, while plotting to take revenge. Bold, suspenseful and sexy, Femme is a nail-biting erotic thriller that heralds the arrival of exciting new voices in filmmaking, and confirms Stewart-Jarrett and McKay as phenomenal onscreen talents.
Monica (2022)
Join us on Tuesday 13 February for Monica. Trace Lysette delivers a stirring performance as the eponymous Monica, who returns home for the first time in 20 years to care for her dying mother (Patricia Clarkson, in typically luminous form). Beautifully captured on textural 35mm, Andrea Pallaoro’s (Hannah) intimate drama soaks in the hushed tones of a home overwhelmed by illness, but tinged with the fraught atmosphere of estrangement. Can Monica overcome the rejection and abandonment she endured after coming out as trans and find the acceptance she desires? Monica is a tender, complex and rawly emotional tale, exploring the enduring love between mother and child, as well as humanity’s boundless capacity for forgiveness.
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
The strand continues on Wednesday 21 February with the Academy Award-nominated Anatomy of a Fall. After claiming the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes, Justine Triet’s fascinating thriller has blazed a bright path through the awards season, culminating in five Oscar nominations – including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Lead Actress. Sandra Hüller is the impenetrable author who is accused of murdering her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) after he falls from a window. Through a gripping courtroom procedural, Anatomy of a Fall not only dissects the circumstances of Samuel’s death, but the psychological enigma of the couple’s conflicted relationship. With commanding performances, laser-sharp social commentary and a genuinely riveting central mystery, this is not to be missed.
Your Fat Friend (2023)
And finally, we conclude the month with Jeanie Finlay’s eye-opening and moving documentary Your Fat Friend on Wednesday 28 February. This essential film follows fat activist Aubrey Gordon, whose blog, book and podcast have changed millions of people’s relationships with their bodies. Following Aubrey's rise to the top of bestseller lists over six years, this funny, shocking and emotional account probes societal preconceptions of fatness, asking viewers to question how they view fat people and how they consider their own body. But for all of Aubrey’s fans, as well as all of her naysayers, the heart of the film lies in her relationship with her parents, whose love for their daughter seems to have stopped them from really hearing her words. The trio’s collective soul-searching is deeply inspirational, marking this a must-see for those ready to reassess how they look at the world.
Join us from Tuesday 6 February for Curzon Home Cinema Presents... in cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about March’s line-up.
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