Welcome to Cinema at the Heart of the Community
THE BLOCK CINEMA
“Cinema is universal, beyond flags and borders and passports.”
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
THE BLOCK CINEMA is an independent cinema in South Manchester, offering you a wide range of accessible and affordable films. The cinema is led by volunteers who all share a passion for cinema. All are welcome.
Just so you know, we have moved to the new media centre at WYTHENSHAWE FORUM! For details on how to get there, please visit our ‘FACILITIES AND GETTING HERE’ page.
NEXT SCREENINGS
GLADIATOR II (2024)
⚔️ A Legend Reborn. A New Empire Rises. The Arena Beckons…
From the visionary mind of Ridley Scott, the master filmmaker behind Gladiator, Blade Runner, and Napoleon, comes Gladiator II—a thunderous, heart-pounding epic that demands to be witnessed on a large screen with state-of-the-art sound.
🔥 The Battle Begins Again
Years have passed since the death of Maximus, but Rome’s hunger for blood and spectacle has only grown stronger. Lucius (Paul Mescal), the boy once inspired by a fallen hero, is now a man—thrust into a brutal world of politics, power, and the unforgiving sands of the Colosseum. As old enemies rise and new alliances are forged, a new generation must fight for survival, honour, and the fate of an empire.
With a powerhouse cast including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen, Gladiator II delivers an unrelenting spectacle of gladiatorial combat, political intrigue, and breathtaking visuals. Every clash of steel, every roar of the crowd, every bone-crunching blow is brought to life with earth-shaking sound and stunning cinematography—immersing you in the very heart of ancient Rome’s deadliest arena.
🔱 Fortune favours the bold. Will you fight or fall?
🎟️ Book Your Places Now
Thursday, 27 March 2025
The Block Cinema
Doors 6.30 PM; Film 7 PM
Certificate 15
Runtime: 150 min
DOUBLE FEATURE!
Seven Chances (1925)
Way Out West (1937)
🎥 Join us for double fun and laughs with three masters of madcap mayhem Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy!
IN SEVEN CHANCES, struggling stockbroker Jimmie Shannon learns that, if he gets married by 7 p.m. on his 27th birthday — which is today — he’ll inherit $7 million from an eccentric relative. Brilliant! If only he had someone willing to marry him…
WAY OUT WEST is one of Stan and Ollie’s funniest films. In it they try to deliver the deed to a valuable gold mine to the daughter of a dead prospector.
Unfortunately, the daughter’s evil guardian is determined to have the gold mine for himself and his saloon-singer wife. Cue thrills, spills, twists and turns and an unforgettable rendition of ‘On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine’!
Thursday, 3, April 2025
The Block Cinema
Doors 6.45 PM; Film 7.15 PM
SEVEN CHANCES
Certificate U
Certificate U
SECRET SUNSHINE (2007)
A grieving widow relocates to her late husband’s hometown, seeking solace, but encounters unforeseen challenges that test her faith and resilience.
Secret Sunshine (2007), directed by acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong (Peppermint Candy, Burning), is a quietly powerful character study that follows a woman who relocates with her young son to a small provincial town in search of a fresh start. As she attempts to rebuild her life and find connection in a tight-knit, conservative community, her strength and beliefs are challenged in unexpected and deeply emotional ways. What unfolds is a subtle yet intense exploration of grief, faith, and identity, delivered with remarkable restraint and emotional clarity.
What makes Secret Sunshine a must-see is not just its deeply human story, but the extraordinary performance at its centre. Jeon Do-yeon, in a role that earned her the Best Actress award at Cannes, gives a fearless and multilayered performance that captures both vulnerability and resilience. Lee Chang-dong’s direction is patient and unsentimental, allowing the emotional weight of each moment to resonate without melodrama. It’s a film that leaves a lasting impression, asking difficult questions and refusing to offer easy answers.
South Korean cinema has, over the past two decades, established itself as one of the most exciting and innovative forces in world cinema. From thrillers and dark comedies to historical epics and introspective dramas, Korean filmmakers have shown an extraordinary range. What unites their work is a bold willingness to push genre boundaries, explore social themes, and centre character-driven storytelling. Films like Secret Sunshine exemplify this approach — emotionally rich, culturally grounded, and globally resonant.
For audiences seeking more than surface-level entertainment, South Korean cinema delivers films that are entertaining, thought-provoking, and emotionally intelligent. Secret Sunshine is a shining example: personal yet universal, intimate yet profound. A truly unmissable piece of cinema.
🎟️ Book Your Places Now
Thursday, 10 April 2025
The Block Cinema
Doors 6.45 PM; Film 7.15 PM
Certificate 12A
Runtime: 142 mins
OUR SCREENINGS
Please note: Unless otherwise stated, films start at 7.15 pm, and doors open at 6.45 pm.
April
Double Bill – Seven Chances & Way Out West – Thursday 3 April
Seven Chances
Year: 1925
Director: Buster Keaton
Age Certificate: U
Runtime: 57 minutes
Way Out West
Year: 1937
Director: James W. Horne
Age Certificate: U
Runtime: 65 minutes
Secret Sunshine – Thursday 10 April
Year: 2007
Director: Lee Chang-dong
Age Certificate: 12A
Runtime: 142 minutes
Jackie Brown – Thursday 17 April
Year: 1997
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Age Certificate: 15
Runtime: 154 minutes
Cabaret – Thursday 24 April
Year: 1972
Director: Bob Fosse
Age Certificate: 15
Runtime: 124 minutes
May
Drive – Thursday 1 May
Year: 2011
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Age Certificate: 18
Runtime: 100 minutes
The Verdict – Thursday 8 May
Year: 1982
Director: Sidney Lumet
Age Certificate: 15
Runtime: 129 minutes
The 400 Blows – Thursday 15 May
Year: 1959
Director: François Truffaut
Age Certificate: PG
Runtime: 99 minutes
To Be, or Not to Be – Thursday 22 May
Year: 1942
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Age Certificate: U
Runtime: 99 minutes
Amélie – Thursday 29 May
Year: 2001
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Age Certificate: 15
Runtime: 122 minutes
June
A Matter of Life and Death – Thursday 5 June
Year: 1946
Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Age Certificate: U
Runtime: 104 minutes
Aguirre, Wrath of God – Thursday 12 June
Year: 1972
Director: Werner Herzog
Age Certificate: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes
Apocalypse Now: Final Cut – Thursday 19 June
Year: 1979 / Final Cut released 2019
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Age Certificate: 15
Runtime: 183 minutes (3 hours and 3 minutes)
Please note: Doors open at 6 pm – screening at 6.30 pm.
Lost Highway – Thursday 26 June
Year: 1997
Director: David Lynch
Age Certificate: 18
Runtime: 134 minutes