Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is a compelling and poignant drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, from Academy Award® winning director Sam Mendes.

EMPIRE OF LIGHT features a stellar cast led by Academy Award winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Lost Daughter), BAFTA winner Micheal Ward (Blue Story, Top Boy) and Academy Award winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man). It also reunites Mendes with Academy Award winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917, Skyfall).
Hilary (Colman) is a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Ward) is a new employee longing to escape the provincial town where he faces daily adversity. Together they find a sense of belonging and experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.

"Achingly beautiful to look at." (Daily Express UK)

"One of the year's most beautiful and underrated films. Olivia Colman and Michael Ward play employees of a once-grand movie theater who find an unexpected emotional connection." (The Film Yap)

"With 'Empire of Light,' Sam Mendes offers a similar, brief but delightful escape from reality." (Film Threat)

"At its best, it is genuinely evocative... It wisely leaves the camera — plus Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ delicate, pensive score — to do a lot of the talking." (Empire Magazine)

"With Roger Deakins handling the cinematography and making the most of the magical light found on parts of England’s south coast, the film never ceases to be visually absorbing." (Eye For Film)

Sunday, January 29
Doors 1:10 pm | Movie 1:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

EMPIRE OF LIGHT (Sam Mendes, 2022 / 14A / 115 mins) A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s.