Future Cinema and Secret Cinema, like the Bonnie and Clyde of the alternative celluloid experience, are slowly picking off their competition to become the first and last word in the kismet of cinema. Now spawning more events than Kerry Katona spawns children, the past year alone has seen GREASE, BUGSY MALONE, PROMETHEUS and THE THIRD MAN all given the immersive treatment. Now the cinematic superpowers are showing THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and CASABLANCA, but I’m far more of a love ‘n’ fedoras type of gal than a death ‘n’ where’s the soap type of gal… although kudos if that’s your bag, congrats on your soul and sphincter of steel. So safe in the knowledge that some other poor sod was objected to the horrors of death row, I set my curls, slicked on my lippy and donned my best 40s garb (thanks Topshop circa 2010 and Mum’s cardie) to be swept away by Bogie and Co.
Trotting on down to the Troxy in east London has become a bit of a Future Cinema habit- and no wonder. This Art Deco palace of cavernous proportions begs to be filled with sequined and feathered revellers, lending itself perfectly to a certain genre of film: both Bugsy Malone and Casablanca have found their decadent homes at the Troxy. Yet, for the Future Cinema enthusiast, returning to the Troxy for a second milieu of nightclubs, guns, girls and jazz may feel a little like being sold Opal Fruits and Starburst as wildly different products. They’re not. If you loved the first so much you’re keen for a reincarnation, carry on your merry way, good sirs! If you, like me, expect a Future Cinema event to be so cutting edge and exciting it gives Cara Delevigne’s cheekbones a run for their cut-glass money, don’t say I didn’t warn you; Casablanca, as an experience, falls just short of the (usually ambitiously high) mark.
I shan’t assume that London is filled with Future/Secret Cinema aficionados, however… you can’t all be as cool as us, and hey, that’s okay. If you haven’t yet sampled this gem in London’s alternative nightlife crown, Casablanca is an excellent place to start. There is nothing quite like hopping on the DLR and spotting a swarm of seamed stockings, bowties a-bobbing down the carriages, swapping knowing smiles, safe in the knowledge that these are your people. Upon arrival, carousers were bullied into queues by rather enthusiastically homoerotic Nazi officers, and herded into Rick’s Café Americain. Wafting over the masses was the sumptuous aroma of Moroccan food- courtesy of Exmouth Market’s Moro, and utterly delicious. The sultry sounds of a live jazz band underscored the eclectic mix of live performance, but make sure you nab a seat near the front, as tables at the back have not only a limited view, they have no view at all. Set pieces of Casablanca-themed spectacle exploded into action all over the room, injecting an undercurrent of adrenaline and dread in perfect tandem with the film itself.
Casablanca…well, what can one say of Casablanca? A glowing, delicate, tragically romantic morsel of cinema; Casablanca bought out the romantic masochists in their droves, supping on gin and murmuring the heartbreaking soundbites under their breath. Meg Ryan, eat your heart out as Casablanca is a heart-wrenching reminder of what romance used to be. The film benefits from old-school projection – the authenticity almost made me start talking in throatily maudlin metaphor, almost, until I realised in these modern times I simply sounded like Alain de Botton on an ecstasy-fuelled love trip.
Future Cinema’s imagining of Casablanca is another great example of this company’s flawless formula, yet it brings nothing new to the table. Time will tell whether Future Cinema’s subsequent endeavours will become a string of fun nights out on a well-worn theme, or whether they’ll live up to their radical reputation, and continue to shock, surprise and delight us. Here’s hoping for the latter- I’m a fan girl who’s ready to be beguiled once more…do your worst, just leave the shackles at home, thanks.
Future Cinema‘s CASABLANCA is open for future bookings now, via this link here and check out their promo video just below:
