Dark dreams, sharp shadows: winter at the Golden Age

THE BEST NEW RELEASES

Settle in for a dreamily dark winter with a selection of the best new releases, including Sydney Exclusive documentary Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf; Charlize Theron’s motherhood dramedy Tully; French activist epic BPM (Beats Per Minute); Sally Potter’s star-studded satire The Party; Steven Soderbergh’s iPhone-shot shocker Unsane; soulful music documentary Gurrumul; the surprisingly funny Solo: A Star Wars Story; plus additional sessions of high-demand films Isle of Dogs, Call Me By Your Name, The Square, Midnight Oil 1984, Human Flow and The Death of Stalin.

SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE: REDOUBTABLE + GODARD IN FOCUS

Alongside Five Seasons and I Am Not a Witch, Golden Age’s program of Sydney Exclusives continues with the acclaimed biopic Redoubtable (Godard Mon Amour). From Academy Award-winning director Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist), this irreverent film follows cinematic icon Jean-Luc Godard through a host of late-1960s romantic and political crises, starring Louis Garrel in the title role opposite Stacy Martin as Anne Wiazemsky, whose memoir this film is based loosely on. Redoubtable is paired with a selection of some of Godard’s best films leading up to this period, from A Woman is A Woman (1961) and Contempt (1963) to Alphaville (1965) and Made in U.S.A. (1966).

Redoubtable is also screening at ACMI in Melbourne.

WINTER THRILLS & CHILLS

From the jaw-dropping new horror Hereditary starring Toni Collette, to demonic classic The Exorcist, there’s no shortage of ways to lose sleep this season. Golden Age’s roster of winter chillers includes David Lynch’s cryptic nightmare Mulholland Drive, seminal Hitchcock mystery Rebecca, and a special solstice screening of cult 1973 pagan thriller The Wicker Man. And don’t miss the monthly sessions of iconic musical creeper The Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with party packs and audience participation.

VIVID MUSIC & LIVE ON THE GOLDEN STAGE

Golden Age’s winter program includes a sublime Vivid Music line-up, featuring: Mick Turner, Party Dozen, Phanosland, Roadhouses, Midnight Mutants and CLEWS. Every Thursday and Saturday night for the rest of the month, the bar’s velvet curtain is peeled back to reveal a Live on the Golden Stage show. Grab a cocktail or make the most of the weekly beer special and indulge in the sultry soul of Inês, the lush guitar stylings of Brendon Moon and the garage pop of Empat Lima.

Entry is free to live music on the Golden Stage on Thursdays & Saturdays // Surry Hills Pils on tap for $6ea / 4 for $20 c/o Sydney Brewery.

SPECIAL EVENTS & GUEST PRESENTS

Join Golden Age on Wednesday evenings for special Guest Presents sessions. See poetic music documentary Gurrumul with New South Wales Reconciliation Council; Hitchcock classic Vertigo with ‘Sheer Fantasy’ curator David Capra; environmental call-to-arms Blue with Take 3 and Tomra on World Oceans Day; and Sofia Coppola’s wistful Somewhere presented by Golden Age neighbours Paramount House Hotel. Celebrate the actual 40th anniversary of the first Sydney Mardi Gras on 24 June with the rarely-screened and newly restored documentary Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters (1980), with producer Digby Duncan in attendance for a Q&A.

NEW WINTER BAR MENU

Escape into the cinematic beauty and cosy warmth of Golden Age Bar with a new seasonal menu of food and signature cocktails, from the tempestuous Perfect Storm, with spiced rum and ‘flaming’ ginger beer, to the refreshing Honzo Spritz, spiked with yuzu-infused sake. Whether immersing yourself in live music, devouring a renowned Big Cheese Toastie or just indulging in a Rum ‘n’ Raisin Old Fashioned or two, the Bar offers all manner of earthly delights from Tuesday to Sunday each week.

FILM TRIVIA & GOLDEN PRICE TUESDAYS

Test your cinephile skills every Tuesday in the bar with Film Trivia hosted by comedian Alexei Toliopoulos. The winter program includes two special editions – Wes Anderson Trivia (12 June) and Star Wars Trivia (3 July), each followed by a session of Isle of Dogs or Solo: A Star Wars Story. Golden Age Film Club members can access $12 tickets to new release films screening Tuesday nights – look out for the Golden Price sessions online.