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See details of our current seasons below.
While there are a handful of epics that predate Homer’s poem, itself written almost three millennia ago, it is considered the oldest example in European literature of a story in which a hero is forced to overcome many travails across their peregrinations before gratefully, finally arriving home. The influence of its structure and content has endured to the present day in a diverse range of work, from Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings to television’s Battlestar Galactica and of course, James Joyce’s Ulysses. The Odyssey has also proved fertile ground for filmmakers, the scope and scale of the story inspiring any number of road movies and depictions of the impact of prolonged absence not just on those who leave, but on those who remain. This season of films touches upon some of the many facets of Homer’s incredibly rich work, from its portrayal of a weary traveller’s desire for home and family to the impact of violence on the psyche of a soldier. There is also room for retellings, whether in the Coen Brothers’ playful update or Franco Piavoli’s rarely screened version. All of these films stand as testament to the legacy of a writer about whom little is known, but whose work has endured across thousands of years to become part of the DNA of storytelling. Season notes by Kevin Coyne. _ The season accompanies the IFI’s exclusive 70mm presentation of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated The Odyssey, tracing the many ways in which the core themes of journey, exile, homecoming, and survival continue to resonate throughout cinema. NOW BOOKING Book now for cinema screenings via https://ifi.ie/odysseys/ or via IFI Box Office in-person or over the phone via 01 679 5744. Season bundles are available for IFI Members only:
This summer, Untold Ukraine returns for its second edition with four films exploring one of Ukraine’s most powerful forms of resistance: the preservation of culture and identity through storytelling. At a time when war seeks not only to destroy lives but also to erase memory, language, and heritage, these contemporary stories, all released since 2022, reveal how creativity becomes an act of resilience. From teenagers coming of age in Kyiv and reflections on school life in Ukraine amid wartime realities, to a documentary about a beloved cultural icon whose songs continue to inspire generations, and the story of an unlikely dreamer searching for connection at the edge of the universe, these films offer a glimpse into the contemporary realities of Ukrainians beyond the headlines. Together, they celebrate the strength of individuals and communities who continue to create, imagine, and carry their culture forward despite more than four years of full-scale war. More than stories of survival, these are stories of cultural resistance.
A PRIVATE LIFE 15.30, 18.30
BIRDS OF WAR 11.00, 13.45, 20.50
DISCLOSURE DAY 17.40
OBSESSION 11.15
THE INVITE 13.00, 18.00, 20.30
THE LAST VIKING 15.00, 20.40
UNTOLD UKRAINE: YAREMCHUK: THE UNMATCHED WORLD OF BEAUTY 15.45
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council
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