A History of Violence at Showroom, Sheffield

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

A History of Violence at Showroom Workstation, City Centre 26 February 2020 Tickets from £6.90 — Book now

David Cronenberg is best known for his disturbing  brand of body horror; gruesome, yet philosophically-minded films such as The Fly or Videodrome in which the human body morphs and melds in peculiar ways, shedding light upon our fragile, malleable condition. Ostensibly a gangster film, his 2005 film A History of Violence takes a different route to similar issues. Viggo Mortensen stars as Tom Stall, a family man who runs a diner in small town America with his loving wife and teenage son. When two men try to rob his business he reacts with stunning instinct, killing both of them and making the news in the process.

The news report dredges up old friends though, and it soon becomes clear that Tom has a past that he’d rather not revisit. Adapting a graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, Cronenberg and co-writer Josh Olson pick at the knots of identity and self-determination, examining whether a man can sever himself from his own history and start afresh. If the earlier films looked at the malleability of flesh, A History of Violence looks further inwards, at the tension between brutal, self-imposed mental gymnastics and the sinews of muscle memory. Tense pulp fictions meet rigorous ideas in one of the director’s very best films.

A History of Violence at Showroom Workstation, City Centre 26 February 2020 Tickets from £6.90 Book now

Where to go near A History of Violence at Showroom, Sheffield

Site Gallery, Sheffield
City Centre
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Site Gallery Sheffield

Specialising in moving image, new media and performance, and offering a busy events programme, a visit to Site in Sheffield is not to be missed.

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The Leadmill

Situated in a former flour mill to the south east of the city centre, The Leadmill is Sheffield’s longest running music venue.

The Rutland Arms pub in Sheffield
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Rutland Arms

A great pub situated in an early 20th century brick and bright yellow building on the corner of Furnival Street and Brown Street.

The Sheffield Tap
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The Sheffield Tap

With a wide range of craft beers and its very own on-site microbrewery, Sheffield Tap is uniquely housed within a restored railway station.

Street Food Chef
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Street Food Chef

An award-winning Mexican cantina serving speedy and fiercely tasty food – a healthy fast food alternative for the people of Sheffield.

Tamper Sellers Wheel, Sheffield
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Tamper Sellers Wheel

Excellent coffee, including its own blend, and hearty, relaxed food make this one of Sheffield’s best casual eateries.

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Sidney and Matilda

Sidney and Matilda, a former paper factory, is now one of Sheffields’s most exciting gig venues and art spaces.

Graves Gallery
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Graves Gallery

Graves Gallery is home to Sheffield’s visual art collection, with a permanent collection and temporary exhibitions arranged across eight galleries.

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Oisoi

A high-quality pan-Asian restaurant in Sheffield’s city centre, Oisoi is worth a visit to the Steel City right now.

Birdhouse Tea Bar & Kitchen
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Birdhouse Tea Bar & Kitchen

Birdhouse Tea Bar & Kitchen is a family-run tea bar serving breakfast, brunch and wood-fired pizzas alongside an extensive drinks menu, which includes creative brews and tea cocktails.

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