What to watch at the Spazju Kreattiv cinema this month
As Malta’s only arthouse cinema, the Spazju Kreattiv Cinema in Valletta is the go-to theatre for recently released arthouse films and documentaries, often the only on to screen them, as well as a second home for local film aficionados. These upcoming weeks will see a number of unmissable films hit the Spazju Kreattiv screens, many of which came out towards the end of last year. So, here’s the cream of the crop!
klimt & the kiss
Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ is one of the most well-known and replicated paintings in the world. This Ali Ray documentary is not only an on-screen exhibition, but also an intense, compelling, and impassioned look at the remarkable painting, challenging interpretations along the way. At least at face value, it’s a vibrant oil-on-canvas painting depicting two gold-draped lovers embracing, but could there be a darker nature to it? The documentary transports viewers to Vienna at the turn of the century, when a new world was at odds with the old. ‘Klimt & The Kiss’ offers viewers a chance to learn about the turbulent past and the diverse range of remarkable influences that shaped one of the most famous paintings in history.
Jan 12th, 19.30 – 21.30
Fallen Leaves
She was a gloomy supermarket shelf stocker, he was a construction worker and a semi-functional alcoholic? Set in Helsinki, ‘Fallen Leaves’ is about Ansa (Alma Pöysti) and Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), two lonely people who cross paths by coincidence at a karaoke bar but face many obstacles along the way; Misplaced phone numbers, forgotten addresses, a stray dog, and life’s general tendency to throw obstacles at those seeking happiness. This gentle tragicomedy is the fourth part of Aki Kaurismäki’s working-class trilogy (Shadows in Paradise, Ariel, and The Match Factory Girl). The film has Aki Kaurismäki written all over it, with eccentric style and deadpan sense of humour.
Jan 13th, 18.00 – 19.30
Priscilla
In 2022 everyone was talking about Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’. Then, in 2023, Sofia Coppola came out with what was almost a rebuttal to the former. Starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as a more menacing Elvis, ‘Priscilla’ tells the little-known tale of Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s tumultuous relationship. The film is inspired by her memoirs, which detail the extent of psychological and physical abuse she endured in her relationship with the American singer. Priscilla was only 14 years old when she met a 24 year old Elvis, a fact that already suggests something sinister about their marriage. ‘Priscilla’, tells a less romanticised version of the American fairytale that is their story, showcasing Coppola at the pinnacle of her craft both as a writer and a director.
Jan 19th, 19.30 – 21.00
Jan 20th, 17.30 – 19.00
Jan 26th, 19.30 – 21.00
Jan 28th, 20.00 – 22.00
Poor Things
Based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, the plot focuses on Bella Baxter, a young woman living in Victorian era London. After she is crudely resurrected by scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) following her suicide, she runs off with a hedonistic lawyer called Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation. Liberated from the biases of her time, Bella becomes ever more committed to her cause of emancipation and equality. The riveting story and fantastical progression of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), is produced by Stone herself and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
Jan 31st, 19.30 – 22.00
So, which film will you be watching this month?
