Mystery International Film Screening

This event is for individuals aged 15 and over.

Welcome to the sixth edition of Manchester Central Library’s International Film Club’s Mystery Screening series.

Event Details:
• Doors open: 17:00
• Introduction to the film: 17:25
• Film starts: 17:30

• Entry: Pay what you can (recommended donation of £3)
• Popcorn: FREE!
• Drinks: Grab a coffee, tea, or soft drink from the fully stocked café!

To celebrate half a years’ worth of screenings, we’ll be revisiting all of the countries we’ve already visited in the film club so far. As we usually have five films to pick from this month will be no exception, the only difference is that the five films have all been selected from the winning countries we’ve had before.

We've made it easier to vote. You can now select your favourite film on the Eventbrite order form! Just fill in your details as usual, on the next page you can select which of these five films you want us to screen.

This month’s contenders are:

Heart of Glass (1976, Germany)

A minor work from one of the major voices in international cinema, Werner Herzog’s Heart of Glass is an oft overlooked, spellbinding look at an 18th century town’s slow descent into madness as they try to discover the secrets of ruby glass that are lost of the death of the master glassblower. The legend says this film was shot with the cast entirely under hypnosis – for real- to create the alien, detached feel of the piece.

The Given Word (1962, Brazil)

A man’s donkey falls sick in this didactic faith vs judgement story about a man keeping his pact with his religion after he promises to carry a cross like Jesus across the country if his donkey is cured. Vicious at the folly of man and the corruption of religious institutions, Duarte’s film is an underseen gem of Brazilian cinema.

The Red Spectacles (1987, Japan)

From the director of the seismic anime classic Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii’s The Red Spectacles, is a live-action foray into a future world full of political turmoil, barbaric police juggernauts and conspiracy – all presented through a cartoonish, light-hearted riff on the noir films of the 40s. The first in the directors mammoth Kerberos saga, one of the most tonally fascinating sci-fi series from Japan.

Hit The Road (2021, Iran)

A family embarks on a long road trip to drop their eldest son off on a journey he won’t be retuning from, along the way we learn of the deep family bonds through laughter and tears and the beautiful yet dangerous landscapes they have to endure. A touching debut from a second-generation Iranian film director.

Exiled (2006, Hong Kong)

Bitterness, brotherhood, honour and dishonour ripple through every splendidly staged shot in Johnnie To’s modern crime classic that stands as a testament to a new era in Hong Kong filmmaking. Anchored in the camaraderie – and duplicity- of its ensemble cast, Exiled is pure cinema – focused on camera movements, action and powerful performances.

Heart of Glass

The Given Word

The Red Spectacles

Hit the Road

Exiled