FROM 2 Feb
A depressed cinema manager called Hilary, works at the Empire cinema on Margate seafront in 1981 as Britain swan-dives into recession, unemployment and widespread racism.
The staff at the Empire are family – of sorts – including pompous manager, Mr Ellis and dedicated projectionist Norman. The Empire has had to close two of its four screens and the entire upstairs bar due to falling ticket sales.
But then the Empire hires a new ticket-seller: Stephen, a young Black man who has an instant connection with Hilary and their relationship blossoms. The movie, thanks in great part to another astonishing performance by Colman, slowly casts a spell all its own, eventually conjuring another grand, if slightly odder, piece of fine art from a master craftsman.
SPECIAL OFFER:
EMPIRE OF LIGHT & SUSSEX ON THE BIG SCREEN TALK
FOR ONLY £13 (FRIENDS £10)
