Hurst Village Cinema

Hurst Village Cinema is an award winning, volunteer run, not for profit community cinema initiative which was established in 2011 by a group of dedicated film lovers.

We screen films at the Players Theatre on Hurstpierpoint High Street, which we have adapted to provide the full big screen, surround sound experience of any cinema.

The aim of the Village Cinema is to provide the residents of Hurstpierpoint and the surrounding area with access to a diverse range of the best films available from around the world. These films might be recent films that have not had the exposure they should, or films from the past which have been missed or forgotten. Films are shown once or twice a month, usually on the second Thursday and fourth Friday of the month, depending on the availability of the theatre and we also run a monthly Sunday Cinema.

We also offer fantastic Live Broadcasts from National Theatre Live and other events.

It is not necessary to be a member of the Village Cinema to come and see our films, we are open to all. But membership does have strong benefits for you and it helps to support us, so do consider joining.

It is only £10 to become a member and for that you get £2 off ticket prices for films and £5 off ticket Prices for Live Broadcasts. Membership is valid for 12 months from the date you join, so you can join at any time to enjoy a full year of cinematic and theatrical adventures.

To join, simply go to out website and click on the Membership menu option, or drop us an email or come and speak to us on any Film night.

Tickets can be bought online from the Tickets page on our website, or at Mishon Mackay on Hurstpierpoint High Street.

All information provided by Hurst Village Cinema

Screenings

Upcoming

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

27-02-2025 at 19:30

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Synopsis

After my first attempt to screen a film in the vampire genre, Let the Right One In, produced precisely zero ticket sales, I was trepidacious about putting this on. However, it’s essentially a love story, very funny in places and a completely fresh take, as the title would suggest.

It follows Sasha, a young vampire who doesn’t want to kill and her meeting with Paul, a disillusioned boy who would rather not live. Their unconventional bond explores themes of mortality, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life, all underscored by quirky humour and poignant moments.

​I watched it twice in four days and immediately wanted others to see it. Touching, funny and unique.

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Location

Hurst Village Cinema, Players Theatre, 147 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9PU

Archive

Blackbird, Blackbird, Blackberry

10-10-2024 at 19:30

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In a small traditional Georgian village, Etero has chosen to remain unmarried, making her an easy subject of gossip in the village. She cherishes her freedom, as much as her cakes, and is preparing for a peaceful and comfortable retirement away from others’ opinions. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sexually involved with a delivery man and is suddenly faced with the decision of whether to go down the traditional or independent route in pursuit of happiness. Gentle, sardonic and simply presented, the characters are real and openly presents what we all know but rarely get shown: that love and sex is not just for the shapely and young.

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Rose

25-10-2024 at 19:30

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On a coach trip to Paris with her sister, Inger reveals her struggles with schizophrenia to the group, receiving both pity and discrimination. On arrival, it soon becomes clear that Inger has a hidden agenda for taking the trip, concerning a figure from her past, which ultimately involves the entire group in her hunt for answers.
A comedy-drama that gives a much more realistic view of the subject matter of neurodivergence, as it is in part based on the director’s experience. It is also brilliantly cast; Sophie Gråbøl is mesmerising and her antagonist on the trip could not be more convincing and unlikeable. It avoids the normal pitfalls of the ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ message and I expected it to be more uncomfortable watching; in the end I was charmed by it.

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Wilding

27-10-2024 at 15:00

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Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book, Wilding tells the story of a young couple that bets on the future of their failing, 400-year-old estate at Knepp, daring to place the its fate in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe. This is a charming, hopeful and necessary story of ecological regeneration.

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The Taste of Things

14-11-2024 at 19:30

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Set in 1889 France, Dodin Bouffant is a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy but she refuses to marry him, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her. Lavishly shot and beautifully acted, Juliet Binoche and Benoit Magimel manage to convey their love for each other just in the way they handle and prepare food. Definitely a film for foodies but also engrossing enough for those with a layman’s interest. I recommend you do not watch this on an empty stomach.

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Stop Making Sense

24-11-2024 at 19:00

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We are delighted to be teaming up with HURSTFolk to screen this legendary live performance from Talking Heads, filmed in New York by Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia director, Jonathan Demme. An evening of high energy with musicians at the top of their game, it’s still as fresh and vibrant as ever. Mesmerising performance from front man David Byrne in what is often voted the best live concert film ever made. Still looks and sounds

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Four Daughters

29-11-2024 at 19:30

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Winner of four prizes including L'Oeil d'Or (Best Documentary) at Cannes, Four Daughters is a compelling portrait of five women and the unique ties that bind mothers and daughters. The opening scene, once we have grasped what is going on, is tense and mesmerising and the grip the film has on us never lessens. I left the screening simply not knowing what to feel about the matriarch of the family. It dips in and out of re-enactments and interviews, much as American Animals did, with confessions and reflections from the mother Olfa and her younger daughters, offering the women agency to tell their own story and capturing moments of joy, loss, violence, and heartache. A wonderful, moving film.

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One Life

01-12-2024 at 15:00

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One Life tells the incredible, emotional true story of Nicholas 'Nicky' Winton (Johnny Flynn/Anthony Hopkins), a young London broker who visits Prague in December 1938. In a race against time, Winton persuades the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia to rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children before Nazi occupation closes the borders. Fifty years later, Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) is haunted by the fate of the children he wasn't able to bring to safety in England. It's not until the BBC show ‘That's Life!’ re-introduces him to some of those he helped rescue, that he finally begins to come to terms with the guilt and grief he carried, whilst making him an instant national hero.

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Pan's Labyrinth

09-01-2025 at 19:30

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Guillermo del Toro’s work is a haunting and visually mesmerizing film that blends dark fantasy with historical drama.

Set in post-Civil War Spain in 1944, it follows Ofelia, who escapes into a mystical labyrinth to avoid the brutal reality of her world dominated by her sadistic stepfather, Captain Vidal, brilliantly played by Sergi López. In fact, I’ve rarely been as scared by a character in a film.

​A great film that outlines human capacity for both cruelty and kindness. Come and see what all the fuss is about for yourself.

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Sword of Trust

16-01-2025 at 19:30

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We don’t deliberately avoid showing comedies at HVC, it's just that good ones are really hard to find. This laid-back film from Lynn Shelton is a well-timed reminder that Americans can indeed poke fun at themselves, with delightful results.

It follows a pawnshop owner Mel, (played by Marc Maron, who also provides the deep South bluesy soundtrack), who becomes entangled in a bizarre conspiracy involving Civil War truthers. Couple Mary and Cynthia inherit an antique sword they believe could prove the South won the Civil War and Mel agrees to help them sell the piece, leading to a series of encounters with colourful characters.

​Blending humour with social satire it shows real characters reacting normally and unheroically under pressure.

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Magnolia

24-01-2025 at 19:30

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In my opinion the greatest film ever made and perfect in every way. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson admitted he is resigned to never making another film as good as this, and he made There Will be Blood, Boogie Nights and The Phantom Thread.

It centres around seven intertwined stories in the San Fernando valley, stories of flawed, complex characters struggling with trauma, regret and the desire for redemption. A stella cast, (Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, John C. Reilly) who produce pitch-perfect performances and a brilliant score by Aimee Mann, it’s a raw, emotionally intense film, boldly examining the pain of human connections, particularly with fathers.

​The ultimate ‘come and see what all the fuss is about’ film.

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Perfect Days

26-01-2025 at 15:00

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One of those films you know you are in safe hands from the start and that you won’t be sent on an emotional rollercoaster.

Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days is a quiet, contemplative exploration of solitude and routine, following a Tokyo restroom cleaner named Hirayama. Through his meticulous daily rituals, we see beauty in ordinary moments: cleaning, listening to music, and taking in small details of city life. Koji Yakusho’s understated performance reveals Hirayama’s inner life without words, letting his actions convey depth and quiet resilience as well as simple dignity.

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The Second Mother

06-02-2025 at 19:30

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This film from Brazil really plays to our British sensibility, with our historic class system and politeness.

Val is a loyal housemaid to a wealthy São Paulo family, but when her estranged daughter, Jéssica arrives, her independent spirit and unwillingness to adhere to social boundaries disrupt the household’s unspoken rules. Directed by Anna Muylaert, it delves into class divisions and family dynamics and Regina Casé delivers a standout performance as Val, whose personal journey highlights the sacrifices and complexities of maternal love.

​The sensitive direction and subtle social critique make the film a poignant, insightful look at inequality, family bonds, and the courage to seek change.

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Vindication Swim

09-02-2025 at 15:00

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Shot in Sussex, we are delighted to welcome producer Simon Hasler to HVC for a Q&A after the screening and, if schedule allows, the director Elliott Hasler, former Hurst College pupil.

Vindication Swim tells the inspiring story of Mercedes Gleitze, a young woman in 1920s England who defies societal norms to pursue her dream of becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel. The film captures her resilience against not only physical and environmental challenges but also the intense gender biases of her time. With evocative period details and a moving central performance,

​Vindication Swim explores themes of determination, empowerment, and the fight for equality. Hasler’s direction brings an intimate and heartfelt perspective to Mercedes’ journey, making it a tribute to both courage and perseverance.

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