SCREEN TIME
PICTUREHOUSE PICKS Cambridge Arts Picturehouse duty manager and events coordinator Chloe Kelly looks forward to more stars of the screen this month T his November we are lucky to be collaborating with the Cambridge University Italian Society to kickstart an Italian retrospective season.
Dr Luca Peretti, lecturer in Italian cinema and cultural history at Cambridge University, brought forth a one-of-a-kind collaboration back in March to celebrate the work of the late Bernardo Bertolucci and his longtime producer-in-crime Jeremy Thomas, who joined us in person to discuss their film The Dreamers (2003). This time around, we will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Battle of Algiers (1966), directed by Italian neorealist master Gillo Pontecorvo. Pontecorvo began documenting local factory workers’ activism with his first film, Giovanna (1955). Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, The Battle of Algiers has stirred audiences and critics since its release, immersively depicting the Algerian resistance against the French occupation during the late 1950s. The Battle of Algiers suffered many obstacles in its distribution run, as the title was officially banned in France for three months and would remain unscreened there for five years. Screenings came with pre-warnings to alert audiences that this was not ‘newsreel’, and there was an ever-present fear around its revolutionary power, with Pontecorvo even using real-life veterans in his cast. You can find out more about the history and significance of this film at the screening on 5 November, which will include an in-person introduction by Peretti before the feature begins. There are two other titles that I am personally excited for this November, La bola negra from directing duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (known as Los Javis) and Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother , directed by Bassam Tariq. La bola negra , opening 6 November, draws inspiration from the unfinished play by Federico García Lorca. Intertwining the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War with the history of homophobic persecution, this film follows three stories from three different timeframes. Learning from the best, Los Javis carry the torch from Spain’s beloved director and
screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar, who has also been credited as a producer. In fact, La bola negra is speculated to be an Academy Award best picture nominee, a category known for its rare exposure to and accreditation for international and non-English titles. The only international film to have won best picture is Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019), so this has, naturally, raised excitement for modern audiences. Then, opening on 20 November, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows an assassin and father of three (Mahershala Ali) whose life is turned upside down when his wife dies. Influenced by the Islamic hadith in which Prophet Muhammad responds thrice that ‘your mother’ is the most deserving of honour, this film is an action-packed odyssey of a man’s testament to faith and fatherhood. Look out for cinematographer Katelin Arizmendi’s electric frames and, for those who loved Everything Everywhere All at Once , Son Lux are the composers of the original score for this desolate drama.
WAR PATH The Battle of Algiers (top), La bola negra (middle) and Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother (bottom) are eye-catchers
La bola negra is speculated to be an Academy Award best picture nominee
Visit picturehouses.com/arts for the full programme, special screenings and events
30 NOVEMBER 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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