The films to see in York this week – 22-28 November 2019

Are you sitting comfortably?

No, you’re stood up on the number 19 to Rawcliffe with your nose in a stranger’s armpit, you say? Ah well. I’ll begin anyway.

It’s a fairytale-tastic week for new releases, with the just-slightly-anticipated return of Elsa and Anna in Frozen II, plus a feminist take on an old seaside favourite in Judy & Punch…

New releases

Frozen II

So, as one of the 17 people left in the Western world who haven’t seen the smash hit original, I thought I’d take a ‘Which Frozen character are you?’ quiz to get in the spirit ahead of this sequel.

Turns out I’m Anna – optimistic, eager and always see the good in people (broadly true after a couple of pints).

I have a sister called Elsa who has superpowers (not fair!), and in the new film I’m accompanying her on a dangerous journey to find out where her magic comes from.

We’re joined by Kristoff (my boyfriend, who looks a bit wet to be honest, but has his own reindeer, so that’s something) and Olaf, a talking snowman who looks like he might be fun in small doses (think I’ll take a three bar heater along just in case).

Judy & Punch

There looks to be a touch of Monty Python to this darkly comic take on the classic puppet show, which (as the title would suggest) puts a feminist spin on the familiar subject matter.

Mia Wasikowska (Crimson Peak) stars as Judy, the long-suffering wife of charismatic puppeteer Punch (Damon Herriman), a violent drunkard who takes the credit for their popular slapstick shows.

When she leaves her feckless husband in charge of their newborn baby, the tragic consequences spur her on to revenge.

The feature debut of Australian director Mirrah Foulkes, it’s been hailed by Variety as ‘a determinedly offbeat, often delightful mix of satire, whimsy and social critique.’

Other screenings

City Screen’s Studio Ghibli season ends in fine style on Sunday 24th with fantasy adventure Princess Mononoke, an ecologically-themed tale about a war between humans and powerful forest gods.

Meanwhile, Mon 25th sees their latest Surprise Film Screening, where you can get to see a highly acclaimed new film ahead of its release, for a reduced price of £8 (£5 for members) – but you won’t know what it is until the credits roll…

Natalie Portman stars as an astronaut whose life unravels after she comes back down to earth in US drama Lucy in the Sky, showing at City Screen on Tues 26th – and on the same day you can also catch jazz documentary It Must Schwing! The Blue Note Story.

While The Irishman continues its brief cinema run this week, Everyman are also offering the chance to catch a classic early Scorsese/De Niro collaboration on Fri 22nd, when Taxi Driver shows as part of their cult season.

Everyman also celebrate another timeless partnership with a late night screening of the first Lethal Weapon on Sat 23rd.

And finally, with just a month to go until the big day, expect plenty of cinematic stocking fillers over the next few weeks – starting on Mon 25th with a screening of Love Actually at Everyman, and continuing on Thurs 28th when Spark York kick off their festive film season with The Holiday – the latter is free to enter, but in keeping with the season, there will be a charity bucket doing the rounds.

Community cinema

Film at the Folk Hall’s offering this month is one of this summer’s biggest homegrown releases, as Beatles-themed romcom Yesterday asks what life would be like if the Fab Four never existed.

The answer, of course, is that Tamwar from EastEnders would nick all their songs, which is the premise for this fun but flawed comedy starring Albert Square escapee Himesh Patel and Lily James.

It shows at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, on Fri 22nd at 7:30pm (doors 7pm), and tickets are £3 for members or £5 for guests.

Over at South Bank Community Cinema on the same night, Fred MacMurray’s troubles are most definitely here to stay in 1944 film noir classic Double Indemnity.

You can catch it at Clement’s Hall on Fri 22nd at 8pm (doors 7:30pm). Tickets are £3 for members and £4 for guests.