This autumn, the Barbican Centre is hosting a special film season that explores city life in London.
Urban Wanderings has a particular focus on the East End, and the boroughs surrounding the venue.
Scheduled screenings do not start until the 18th September, but until then, you can go an
Architecture Tour related to the programme. On the ninety minute guided walk you will learn about the history of the centre and the plans behind the original design. It is best to go in August because as of the 1st September, tickets increase from £8 to £10.50.
The films also range from £8-£10.50 standard when booked online, although there are concession prices too. The season starts off with a black and white 1947 realist drama directed by Robert Hamer. It
Always Rains on Sundays is about an escaped criminal who tries to seek refuge with his former girlfriend in Bethnal Green, only to find out she is married.
Other classics will include
Clockwork Orange, and Hitchcock's
Vertigo.
On the 19th September you have two choices. At 6pm,
Bronco Bullfrog is a 1969 teen romance set in Stratford, while at 8pm you can watch series of documentaries about
Surveillance and stalkers, using archive footage.
There are many other documentary programmes too;
Barbitopia[/LINK] tells the story of how the Barbican Centre was built of a Blitz bomb site, while on a lighter note,
Swandown takes you on a hundred and sixty mile journey from Hastings to Hackney as you follow director, Andrew Kötting and writer, Iain Sinclair as they pedal in a swan boat.
And for the real film buffs, on the 27th September, the Barbican will be holding a quiz night at the Camera Cafe & Bar on Beech Street. There will be picture and sound sound rounds, as well as a special quiz for the real know it alls. critic and broadcaster, Jason Solomons will be setting his own questions and handing out prizes to the winning team. After the quiz, there will be a screening of [LINK=http://www.barbican.org.uk/film/event-detail.asp?ID=15205]An American Werewolf in London.
The East End season continues until the 2nd October, and many of the films include introductions of pre/post talks.