The Barbican Cinema curators have programmed a special evening of two films Free Time and Lima Screams at St. John's Church
These two very different City Symphonies offer exhilarating portraits of vibrant cities – New York and Lima – with vibrant scores by a diverse selection of musicians.
Free Time (U*) [running time 61mins]
1950s footage of New York comes alive in this beautifully restored city symphony from celebrated filmmaker Manfred Kirchheimer. In his latest work, Manfred Kirchheimer has meticulously restored and constructed 16mm black- and-white footage that he and Walter Hess shot in New York between 1958 and 1960. Free Time captures the in-between moments—kids playing stickball, window washers, Manhattanites reading newspapers on their stoops—and the architectural beauty of urban spaces, set to the stirring sounds of Ravel, Bach and Count Basie. The footage was shot in several distinct New York neighbourhoods, including Washington Heights, the Upper West Side, and Hell’s Kitchen, and features evocative stops throughout the city, making time for an auto junkyard in Inwood and a cemetery in Queens.
Lima Screams (12A*) [running time 77mins]
A pulsing and immersive city symphony dedicated to Peru’s capital city, pumping with the sounds of punk, psychedelia and experimental electronica. Directors Ximena Valdivia and Dana Bonilla take us on an exciting dive through the streets and music venues of Lima, showing the eclectic and diverse musical talents of the city’s artists against a collage of moments and sensations. Lima Screams is an ecstatic and visually thrilling journey through the city’s spaces, as marginalised communities make beautiful music and political protests are backed by fierce electronic sounds. As the city screams, you have no choice but to be carried along with it…
Please note there will be a 10minute intermission between the films
This film has been rated 18+
This event is curated by Barbican Cinema
*Please note as this is a free ticketed event, we expect that some ticket holders may not attend. Due to this we will be welcoming walk ins at the beginning of each event. We encourage you to arrive at the start of the event even if an event states it is sold out.