Rent Scala!!! (2023)
3.7 of 5 from 117 ratings
1h 36min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Archive footage, eye-popping movie clips, acid-crazed animation and famous names collide to tell the story of London's infamous, influential Scala cinema. With its cracked marble floors, resident cats and mysterious, extrasensory rumblings, the Scala was magical and a refuge from the violence of Thatcher's Britain. Hilarious, irreverent and ultimately heartbreaking with a fabulous original score by Barry Adamson, Scala!!! is more than mere nostalgia - it's an X-rated love letter and a universal shout-out to the power of cinemas to inspire young minds and create a sense of community for outsiders. A place where everyone is welcome.
- Actors:
- Barry Adamson, John Akomfrah, Rick Baker, Ralph Brown, Paul Burston, Adam Buxton, Caroline Catz, Bal Croce, Helen de Witt, Jane Giles, Lina Gopaul, Mary Harron, Douglas Hart, Graham Humphreys, Stefan Jaworzyn, Matt Johnson, Alan Jones, Davey Jones, Princess Julia, Isaac Julien
- Directors:
- Ali Catterall, Jane Giles
- Producers:
- Alan Marke, Jim Reid, Andrew Starke, Andy Starke
- Writers:
- Ali Catterall, Jane Giles
- Aka:
- Scala!!! Or, the Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World's Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits
- Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 22/01/2024
- Run Time:
- 96 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Audio Description
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour and B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary by directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall
- Scala Interviews (2022, 60 mins): previously unseen bonus footage shot for the film
- Scala (1990, 35 mins): a portrait of the cinema made for Cable London
- Scala Cinema (1992, 4 mins): student film shot at the Scala
- Shorts shown at the Scala (1989-1991, 60 mins) - a selection of short films seen at the cinema: 'Relax' (Christopher Newby), 'Flames of Passion' (Richard Kwietniowski) and 'Coping with Cupid' (Viv Albertine)
- Animations by Osbert Parker (2022-2023, 4 mins total)
- Cartoons by Davey Jones (2022. 3 mins)
- London Film Festival introduction featuring cast, crew and audience participation (2023,12 mins)
- Scala Programmes 1978-1993 (2023, 12 mins): a closer look at 15 editions
- Cabinet of Curiosities (2023, 18 mins): a guided tour of ephemera, photos and clippings from the Scala archive
- Trailer
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Reviews (1) of Scala!!!
Joyous - Scala!!! review by griggs
Scala!!! is a joyous, bittersweet love letter to one of London’s most iconic cinemas, a haven for misfits, cinephiles, and rule-breakers. The documentary bursts with energy, much like the venue itself must have in its heyday, capturing the wild, chaotic spirit of a place where censorship laws were gleefully bent, double bills reigned supreme, and the audience was as much a part of the show as the films on screen. Regret hangs heavy for me, though – I was too young to experience the Scala. My first encounter with it was seeing the building abandoned and forlorn, its magic long gone, awaiting transformation into its latest guise. This film lovingly rekindles that magic, unearthing incredible archive footage and heartfelt anecdotes from those lucky to have lived it. It’s not just a celebration of a cinema but a poignant reminder of the cultural spaces we’ve lost – and a powerful call to action to protect those that remain.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.