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.

YOU'RE MY FAVOURITE FILM: A COMMUNITY TRIBUTE TO FILM

NEXT SCREENINGS

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🎬 Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) PG

 

Thursday 12 March

Doors: 6.30 pm  Film: 7.00 pm
Year: 2019

Running Time: 1h 49m

Director: Pawo Choyning Dorji
Key Cast: Sherab Dorji, Ugyen Norbu Lhendup
Genre: Drama / International / Human Story

A young teacher dreaming of life in Australia is sent to the most remote school in the world — a Himalayan village in Bhutan accessible only by days of walking. There, without electricity, textbooks, or basic comforts, he meets a class of children whose hunger to learn quietly reshapes his understanding of purpose.

Gentle, warm, and beautifully photographed, Lunana is a story about community, responsibility, and the unexpected places where meaning is found. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature, it’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest classrooms hold the biggest lessons.

“Deeply moving and quietly uplifting.” — The Guardian
“A tender, humane gem.” — Empire
“A film of rare sincerity.” — Sight & Sound

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☘️ The Attendant (2012) & ☘️ Once (2007)


Thursday 19 March

Doors: 6.30 pm  Short Film: 6.45 pm 

Main Feature: 7.10 pm

☘️ The Attendant (2012) PG

Running Time: 15m

Director: Ian Beattie
Key Cast: Adrian Dunbar, Gerard McSorley
Genre: Irish Short / Drama

A quiet and beautifully observed short film set in a Belfast museum, The Attendant follows a museum guard whose routine shifts unexpectedly when a stranger arrives with questions about the past. As memory, history, and personal experience intersect, the film gently explores how ordinary lives are shaped by the events that surround them.

Subtle, thoughtful, and distinctly Irish in tone, this short sets the stage perfectly for the evening’s main feature.

☘️ Once (2007) 15


Running Time: 1h 26m

Director: John Carney
Key Cast: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Genre: Music / Romance / Independent

Set on the streets of Dublin, Once tells the simple and heartfelt story of a busker and a young immigrant musician who meet by chance and begin writing songs together. What begins as a brief encounter grows into something deeper — a quiet collaboration filled with music, longing, and possibility.

Shot with natural warmth and authenticity, Once captures the rhythms of everyday life and the power of music to connect strangers. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song (“Falling Slowly”), it remains one of the most beloved modern Irish films.

Intimate, sincere, and full of unforgettable music, Once is a reminder that sometimes the smallest stories make the biggest impression.

“A modern musical classic.” — The Guardian
“Beautifully simple and deeply moving.” — Roger Ebert
“One of the most genuine love stories in years.” — Empire

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🎬 Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) 15

 

Thursday 26 March

Doors: 6.30 pm  Film: 7.00 pm
Year: 1986

Running Time: 1h 47m

Director: Woody Allen
Key Cast: Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest, Michael Caine, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Character Study

Set over a series of family gatherings in New York, Hannah and Her Sisters follows the lives, loves, and complications of three sisters and the people drawn into their orbit. Relationships shift, loyalties are tested, and moments of humour and heartbreak unfold with warmth and honesty.

Blending sharp comedy with thoughtful reflection on love, family, and the search for meaning, the film captures the messy, interconnected nature of modern life. Michael Caine’s Oscar-winning performance adds depth to a story that balances wit with emotional insight.

Often regarded as one of the finest ensemble comedies of the 1980s, Hannah and Her Sisters remains a beautifully observed portrait of family, forgiveness, and the unpredictable paths of the heart.

“A rich and compassionate comedy of manners.” — The Guardian
“One of the great ensemble films.” — Roger Ebert
“Warm, witty and wonderfully humane.” — Empire

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OUR SCREENINGS

Please note that, unless otherwise stated, films begin at 7 pm and doors open at 6:30 pm.

 

MARCH

🎬 Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) PG Thursday 12 March
Director: Pawo Choyning Dorji Runtime: 1h 50m
Genre: Drama / International / Feel-Good

🎬 Once (2007) 15 Thursday 19 March
Director: John Carney Runtime: 1h 26m
Genre: Romance / Music / Independent

🎬 Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) 15 Thursday 26 March
Director: Woody Allen  Runtime: 1h 47m
Genre: Comedy-Drama / Ensemble / New York

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