Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Looking around town, there’s no escaping it…Christmas has well and truly arrived. We’ll be the first to admit that festive films can be a bit naff, but there are a few gems. From Judy Garland in Vincente Minnelli’s ravishing Technicolor musical Meet Me in St. Louis to Joe Dante’s slyly satirical Gremlins to Billy Wilder’s teaming of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment, we’ve highlighted some of those films that do Christmas properly.
This is also a bumper time of year for new releases. There’s still time to catch The Irishman on the big screen where it belongs — Martin Scorsese’s wonderful, downbeat mob epic sees him re-team with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, while Al Pacino works with the director for the first time. Noah Baumbach’s screwball dramedy Marriage Story features never better performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple going through divorce, while Knives Out is a tightly plotted update on the Agatha Christie brand of murder mystery, and a whole lot of fun.
Here are our picks
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1. Marriage Story at HOME
HOME Marriage Story at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 22 November–12 December 2019, from £7.50 - Book now
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver impress in this tragicomic divorce drama from director Noah Baumbach.
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2. Knives Out at HOME
HOME Knives Out at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 29 November–12 December 2019, from £9 - Book now
An all star cast assemble for this cannily plotted murder mystery from the director of Brick. It’s a lot of fun.
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3. Zodiac at FACT, Liverpool
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4. Make A Scene Presents: Female Trouble at Cultureplex
Make A Scene Presents: Female Trouble at Cultureplex, Manchester, 13 December 2019, 8:00 pm–10:30 pm, from £5 - Book now
Looking for a Christmas film with a twist? Make A Scene present a John Waters classic at Cultureplex this December.
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5. The Irishman at HOME
The Irishman at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 15 November–12 December 2019, from £7.5 - Book now
Martin Scorsese’s latest is an icy monument to a genre he helped define. See it in cinemas while you can.
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6. Cities of Seven Hills at Film Unit, Sheffield
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7. Transit at Cultureplex
HOME Transit at Cultureplex, Manchester, 16 December 2019, 6:30 pm–8:45 pm, from £9 - Book now
German filmmaker Christian Petzold draws bold parallels in this updated telling of Anna Seghers 1942, wartime novel. One of our films of the year.
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8. It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME
Image courtesy of HOME It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 14–23 December 2019, from £5.00 - Book now
This ultimate feel-good, festive favourite, from Oscar-winning director Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as despairing businessmen George Bailey. HOME present their annual screenings.
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9. Meet Me in St. Louis at Cultureplex
Meet Me in St. Louis at Cultureplex, Manchester, 25 December 2019, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm, from £8 - Book now
Have yourself a merry little Christmas at Cultureplex. This is a perfect film.
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10. A Musical Before Midnight! – Singin’ In The Rain + New Year’s Eve Party at Showroom, Sheffield
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11. Little Women at HOME
HOME Little Women at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 27 December 2019–9 January 2020, from £7.50 - Book now
Greta Gerwig follows the acclaimed Lady Bird with one of our most anticipated titles of the year. Advance word is that this is something special.
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12. Mistress America at Cultureplex
Mistress America at Cultureplex, Manchester, 29 December 2019, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm, from £8 - Book now
With Greta Gerwig’s Little Women hitting cinemas, revisit one of the director’s on-screen triumphs. This dizzy slice of New York screwball is well worth your time.
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13. Celebrating Women in Global Cinema at HOME
HOME Celebrating Women in Global Cinema at HOME Manchester, Manchester, 1 January–31 December 2019, from £5.50 - Book now
HOME present a year long programme of films showcasing women working in front and behind the camera.
More in Cinema
Documentary Challenge at IWM North
Make and feature in your own mini-documentary at IWM North.
Gremlins at VUE Printworks
When Billy Peltzer is given a fascinating new pet for Christmas, he’s warned of three things: don’t expose him to bright light, don’t get him wet and, most importantly, keep him away from food after midnight.
Sing-a-long with The Muppet Christmas Carol
Join The Dukes theatre in the beautiful surroundings of Lancaster Priory for a special sing-along-with screening of Jim Henson’s much loved Christmas classic.
Call Me By Your Name at Cultureplex
In 1980s Italy, a romance blossoms between a seventeen year-old student and the older man hired as his father’s research assistant.
Small World Cinema Club: Force Majeure at Cultureplex
Small World Cinema Club hosts an intimate, relaxed one-off screening of Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure.
Videodrome at Showroom, Sheffield
As the president of a trashy TV channel, Max Renn is desperate for new programming to attract viewers. When he happens upon ‘Videodrome’, a TV show dedicated to gratuitous torture and punishment, Max sees a potential hit.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
Top of our list of highlights this month, we’re looking forward to the opening of ‘Vivian Suter’ and ‘Theaster Gates: Amalgam’ at Tate Liverpool.
Literature
There are plenty of magical live literature happenings in the run-up to, during and even after the festive season – and lots of book-buying opportunities, perfect for presents for friends and family, or even yourself.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester.
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
Our expert guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North. Taking in bars, restaurants and everywhere to go to eat, drink and get merry.
Tours and Activities
Get outdoors this winter or retreat into the warmth of a workshop with our December guide of Tours and Activities.
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Father’s Day
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Music Venues in Cumbria
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Music Venues in Sheffield
Sheffield boasted a strong and varied musical heritage. We pick out some of the city’s music venues – from student clubs to community pubs, and even the odd classical venue – which continue to play their part in this success.
