The National Science and Media Museum’s Pictureville Cinema will be hosting a season of films specially curated by critically acclaimed, West Yorkshire raised, writer-director Clio Barnard. From 30 January – 9 February, Northern Soul will celebrate northern women in film as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Northern Soul showcases the diversity of perspective, experience and imagination of female voices in the north over six decades, from 60s British New Wave titles through to more recent releases from across the region. Taking place in Yorkshire’s largest independent cinema, the inaugural season for Bradford: A City of Film shines a spotlight on the city’s UNESCO City of Film status whilst championing cinematic trailblazers on both sides of the lens.
The season opens with Tony Richardson’s film adaptation of A Taste of Honey (1961), original screenplay by Shelagh Delaney, on Thursday 30 January. The screening includes a post screening conversation with programme curator Clio Barnard, who described Rita Tushingham’s performance as protagonist Jo as ‘absolutely mesmerising.’. The season continues to tell stories of working-class girlhood with Rita Tushingham also starring in a 35mm print screening of Under the Skin (1997) screening on Saturday 1 February with an introduction from Dr Karen Thornton.
Other highlights from across the season include Gurinder Chadha’s frank yet touching comedy Bhaji on the Beach (1993), introduced by actress Shaheen Khan, Carol Morley’s Typist Artist Pirate King (2022), and Northern Soul (2014) which includes a post-screening discussion with director Elaine Constantine and artist and filmmaker Jeanie Finlay. For stories even closer to home for Bradford, Northern Soul also includes a 35mm print screening of Andrea Arnold’s 2011 adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights, introduced by BFI critic Kate Stables.
For film times and to book tickets, visit their website.
