film

It's a minor but significant relief to see that Mooby Aribau seems to be stepping in to fill the gap left by the closure of Sala Phenomena until 2026 for a major refurb – their programme suddenly contains a lot more of the curated, one-off screenings Phenomena is noted for, of which this showing of Terry Gilliam's 1995 sci-fi thriller is a perfect example.

Loosely based on Chris Marker’s experimental short La Jetée, the film follows James Cole (Bruce Willis on raw, vulnerable form), a convict from a grim 2030s future where humanity has been driven underground by a deadly virus that has wiped out most of the population. Cole is sent back to the 1990s to gather information about the origins of the virus, which authorities believe is connected to a radical group called the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. The film explores memory, fate and the fragility of human civilization on its way to a truly haunting conclusion.