ALSO SHOWING
I AM WOMAN (15)
Preview UNJOO MOON writes and directs a biopic of Australian singersongwriter Helen Reddy, famous for her I Am Woman anthem, who sadly died last month.
Helen (Tilda Cobham-hervey, pictured) arrives in 1966 New York with her three-year-old daughter on the promise of a recording contract. Her hopes are cruelly dashed when the record company tells her that they have enough female talent on the roster and she should return home. Instead, Helen chooses to stay in America without a visa.
She forges a close friendship with rock journalist Lillian Roxon (Danielle Macdonald) and captures the mood of the second wave of the feminist movement with her song I Am Woman.
Aspiring talent manager Jeff Wald (Evan Peters) becomes her agent and later her husband, but his drug addiction poisons the relationship and Helen realises she must take control of her career.
Moon’s film will be simultaneously available on download and streaming platforms.
AKIRA (15)
Preview THE cult Manga comic series comes majestically to life in a 4K re-release of writer-director Katsuhiro Otomo’s startling 1988 animation, set in a future Japan presided over by marauding gangs of bikers and rebels intent on overthrowing the government. The artwork is ferociously true to the comics, but plot and character are slightly scrambled in translation.
The plot centres on Shotaro Kaneda (voiced by Mitsuo Iwata) and best friend Tetsuo Shima (Nozomo Sasaki), who lead their gang, the Capsules, in a turf war against bitter rivals the Clowns. The feud pales into insignificance when doctors discover that Tetsuo possesses devastating psychic abilities similar to a little boy called Akira, who destroyed Tokyo decades before.
HEY DUGGEE AT THE MOVIES (U)
Preview THE animated Cbeebies series for pre-schoolers created by Grant Orchard, which is narrated by Alexander Armstrong, invades Vue multiplexes with a compendium of eight episodes. Duggee (voiced by Sander Jones), above, and the members of The Squirrel Club need to deliver an important parcel at the other end of the river in a fun-filled compilation that includes The River Badge, The Submarine Badge, The History Badge, The Shape Badge, The Honey Badge, The Cardboard Box Badge, The Spooky Badge and The Puddle Badge.
The above films are in selected cinemas.