Set in a gorgeously photographed Technicolor England and a monochrome heaven, A Matter of Life and Death took the imaginative daring of jointly credited writer-producer-directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger to new heights.
David Niven (The Pink Panther, Casino Royale) plays a British airman who survives a plane crash and falls in love with an American radio operator (Kim Hunter — A Streetcar Named Desire, Planet of the Apes), only to be summoned to the afterlife by a heavenly ‘Conductor’ (Marius Goring — The Red Shoes, Ill Met by Moonlight). But is heaven just a hallucination brought on by brain injury?
“How do you put all the “in between” and all the “beyond” into one movie? Powell and Pressburger pulled it off in A Matter of Life and Death, a work of great audacity and joy. This is the universe. And yes, it’s bigger than we’d ever imagined.” Stephanie Zacharek, The Criterion Collection.
1946. UK. Directors: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Cast: David Niven, Kim Hunter, Robert Coote. Duration: 1hr 44mins. Cert: U. Distributor: BFI.
Powell And Pressburger: Fantasy And Wonder
Foyle Film Festival and Nerve Centre present a special programme — Powell and Pressburger: Fantasy and Wonder, part of Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell + Pressburger, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.
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Cinematic Breakfast
A Foyle Film Festival favourite... sit back and relax with a coffee and croissant whilst watching some all-time classic films on the big screen... no better way to spend your weekend.
Make sure to book in advance so we can organise catering, we wouldn't want to run out of tasty treats!
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