Design City Film Season

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
Image courtesy of Design Manchester

Design City Film Season at HOME Manchester, Manchester 12 — 23 October 2016 Tickets from £7.00 — Book now

October sees the return of Design Manchester. Now in its fourth year, Manchester’s festival of design and creativity is celebrating design in cinema with an eclectic season of acclaimed films at HOME. A different expert will introduce each film and provide personal stories, insights and critiques.

First up, on Sunday 16th October, is David Fincher’s Fight Club, which will be introduced by the film’s celebrated production designer Alex McDowell. Adapted from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, the film stars Edward Norton as a disillusioned office worker who finds solace in pugilism after meeting a questionable guru named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). Perhaps not Fincher’s greatest work – Zodiac and The Social Network remain deeper and more quietly impressive – Fight Club nevertheless lingers as an influential, chest-thumping examination of disaffected masculinity.

Vertigo recently supplanted Citizen Kane when it was voted as the best film ever made in Sight and Sound’s prestigious once-a-decade critics’ poll. The 1958 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, stars James Stewart as a San Francisco detective hired to track a woman who seems to be possessed by the past. Hitchcock’s woozy exploration of obsession is absolutely entrancing and should play brilliantly on the big screen. On Monday 17th October, design writer Alice Rawsthorn will be on hand to present the film and talk about Saul Bass’ iconic title sequence.

Image courtesy of Design Manchester
Image courtesy of Design Manchester

The Design Manchester team lighten the mood a little on Tuesday 18th October as film expert Christopher Frayling introduces Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Stanley Kubrick’s classic satirical take on military incompetence and warmongering officials is equal parts hysterical and chilling. Unfortunately, and thanks largely to a certain megalomaniacal U.S. presidential candidate, the films apocalyptic vision remains as relevant as ever. Just remember: “You can’t fight in here. This is the War Room!”

Finally, on Sunday 23rd October, there’s a chance to catch Charles Atlas’ rarely screened  “docufantasy” Hail the New Puritan. This fictive portrait of charismatic choreographer Michael Clark promises a look at 1980s post-punk London subculture that is full of music, fashion and flamboyant dance sequences. The screening at HOME will be introduced by graphic designer Malcolm Garrett who has worked with Clark since 1987.

Design City Film Season at HOME Manchester, Manchester 12 — 23 October 2016 Tickets from £7.00 Book now

What's on at HOME Manchester

Where to go near Design City Film Season

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally patriotic name The Ancient Britain.

Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
Castlefield
Gallery
Castlefield Gallery

The influential Castlefield Gallery sits at the edge of Manchester’s exciting Castlefield district, an ideal home for thought-provoking contemporary art.

What's on: Cinema

Keswick Town
CinemaCumbria
Keswick Film Festival

Keswick Film Festival marks 25 years with a programme featuring some of the best of contemporary independent cinema, alongside select classics, and work from some choice Cumbrian talent.

from £5.00

Culture Guides

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Poet Evan Jones
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.