The Painted Bird (18)

Czech director Vaclav Marhoul’s cinematic masterpiece The Painted Bird is a movie adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s controversial novel about a lone Jewish boy wandering through a cruel obstacle course of survival and abuse in Eastern Europe at the end of World War II.

Featuring a staggering central performance from the young Petr Kotlár alongside a star-studded international ensemble including Udo Kier, Stellan Skarsgård, Harvey Keitel, Julian Sands and Barry Pepper. The Painted Bird has won ecstatic acclaim, with The Guardian’s Xan Brooks describing the film as “a monumental piece of work” rewarding the film with a five-star review.

The film follows the journey of a boy, entrusted by his Jewish parents to an elderly foster mother in an effort to escape persecution. Following a tragedy, the boy is on his own.  Wandering through the desecrated countryside, the boy encounters villagers and soldiers whose own lives have been brutally altered, and who are intent on revisiting this brutality on the boy. When the war ends, the boy has been changed, forever.

Shot in crisp black and white 35mm – Václav Marhoul’s The Painted Bird does far more than simply depict the horror of war. It is an unflinching examination of the very worst of humanity.

Please note: This film contains strong violence, sexual violence and disturbing scenes.

“a monumental piece of work ★★★★★” Xan Brooks, The Guardian

“★★★★★” The Irish Times  “★★★★★” The Radio Times  “★★★★★” The Hollywood News

“★★★★” Empire “★★★★” Total Film “★★★★” Little White Lies “★★★★” Flickering Myth

Rated: 18
Language: Czech; German; Latin; Russian (with subtitles)
Running time: 169 minutes

Please read our Covid-19 Cinema Safety Guidelines before booking.