All of this Unreal Time

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The image shows a person sitting at a table in what appears to be a dimly lit, minimalist diner or café. The person is wearing a dark hoodie with the hood up, facing left, and sitting with their hands clasped in front of them, creating a contemplative or introspective mood. On the table in front of them, there are bottles of ketchup, vinegar, and salt and pepper shakers, adding to the simplicity of the setting. The greenish-blue tint of the lighting adds a moody, cinematic atmosphere to the scene.
Date
7 Dec 2024
Venue
The Hall, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ
Tickets
£25

This event has ended

Suitable for ages 12+
Running time: 90 minutes

Accessibility features available for this event: Captioning BSL Interpreting Wheelchair Access Assistive Hearing

Watch Aoife McArdle, Cillian Murphy and Max Porter’s mesmerising film – followed by live performances of new music inspired by the film from composers Aaron & Bryce Dessner and Jon Hopkins

‘I came out here to apologise. You know. I find myself, at the midpoint of my life, in a dark wood, and now I’m here, in the forest of my mind, and every tree is shame, every living thing is a reprimand, and I realise, I must speak freely now, before I lose you.’

A man – any man, everyman – walks alone through night and the city. From subway to pavement to wide open marshland, he confesses his failings: emotional, physical, political. To whom, and for what? Ashamed and alarmed, he considers both the smallness of human life and the scale of the world, and ultimately our most pressing obligation: to care for those alongside us, and for the earth that sustains us.

In this night of cinema and music, watch the film starring Cillian Murphy then take in live performances of new music inspired by the film from the composers of its original score – Aaron Dessner & Bryce Dessner (of The National) and Jon Hopkins.

Written by Max Porter, directed by Aoife McArdle and produced by Mary Hickson and Fran Thompson, All of This Unreal Time was first presented as an immersive installation at Manchester Central during the 2021 edition of Manchester International Festival. After making its London premiere at Royal Festival Hall (Southbank Centre), All of This Unreal Time returns to Manchester.

This one-off screening is followed by a Q&A with Max Porter, Aoife McArdle, Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner, Jon Hopkins and Mary Hickson chaired by Keisha Thompson – plus live performances of new work inspired by the film from composers Aaron & Bryce Dessner and Jon Hopkins. The events in London and Manchester also mark the publication of Rough Trade Books' edition of All of This Unreal Time, with a new foreword by Cillian Murphy.

Don't miss your chance to experience this standout film in an unforgettable night of cinema and live music.

Featuring live music from...

Headshot of Aaron Dessner smiling and wearing a blue t-shirt

Aaron Dessner

Headshot of Bryce Dessner wearing a black suit jacket, blue beanie and smiling

Bryce Dessner

Headshot of Jon Hopkins with his eyes closed. He is wearing a maroon jumper and gold chain. The background shows blurry lights.

Jon Hopkins

  • "This is not just a film but an exorcism"

    The Guardian

  • “a riveting, genuinely immersive journey"

    The New York Times

  • "a stunning piece of cinema"

    Manchester Evening News

  • 'All of this unreal time is a project I have deep affection for…. It was made in the bleak depths of a pandemic, yet comes from a place of pure collaboration and love. We wanted to make a visual poem that scratches at concerns about masculinity, society, and personal responsibility… all of that knotty difficult stuff, but make it with an open and a broken heart.'

    Cillian Murphy

Watch the trailer

A still from All Of This Unreal Time, with Cillian Murphy walking towards the camera in a long, straight tunnel with green metal walls.

All of this Unreal Time | Trailer | Factory International

End of Media embed
  • 'This was an extraordinary project to work on. The combination of talent was rare and wonderful, and the work itself astonishingly powerful. What a group that the legendary Mary Hickson assembled. A dream to work with Aaron and Bryce Dessner on the score, and under the direction of my previous collaborator Aoife McArdle. Max Porter's writing combined with Aoife's imagery felt it was perfectly summing up the feeling of this era, the conflict and tragedy but also the love and hope. What we as a species are going through right now. Cillian Murphy is really the only person who could deliver these words with the power they deserved.'

    Jon Hopkins

Tickets

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Credits

Max Porter Writer
Cillian Murphy Actor
Aoife McArdle Film Director
Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner & Jon Hopkins Composers
Mary Hickson Creative Producer
Fran Thompson Creative Producer
Michael Brown Production Designer

Presented by Factory International in association with the Southbank Centre. Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival. New music commissioned by the Southbank Centre.

Access

Travel information

The building can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

The Water Street route is the quickest way to arrive at our City Square entrance.

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