Big screen classics

From its origins in early cinema, the road movie has become synonymous with the image the US has presented to itself and the wider world. But it is not uniquely American, with other national cinemas offering their own take – adapting it to reflect their unique social, political and geographical sensibilities. Whatever its nationality, the road movie has proven an effective genre in confronting and challenging conventions, and offering a glimpse into counter-cultural movements. The destination is less important than the journey, and all, no matter the routes they take, are fascinating metaphors for the vagaries of life.

Jason Wood, Executive Director for Public Programmes and Audiences

The summer is the ideal time to reflect on the ways hotels have been portrayed throughout cinema’s history. This selection includes films set entirely in hotels, but also features works that spotlight influential hotel scenes. These spaces are often perfect locations for exploring loneliness, inequality, human cruelty or wider social moods. They can also serve as crime scenes, or as symbols of social status or worker exploitation. On other occasions, they are the sites where unexplained or eccentric events unfold. What unifies this programme is visual innovation, revealing the myriad ways hotels are represented on screen.

Aga Baranowska, Contextual Events Programmer