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Watching a movie under the stars in Somerset House’s gorgeous neoclassical courtyard should be pretty near the top of your Things to Do in London list. This year’s 14-night season kicks off on Thursday, featuring a line-up of UK premieres, recent hits (including ‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Girlhood’) and classic movies, all projected on to London’s largest outdoor screen with stonking surround sound.
Tickets are still available for the opening night film, the UK premiere of ‘Things to Come’ by incredible French director Mia Hansen-Løve (who’s 35 and already on her fifth movie) starring Isabelle Huppert. Other premieres include Viggo Mortensen’s hippy comedy ‘Captain Fantastic’, while Pedro Almodóvar will be introducing his new film ‘Julieta’ on August 10. The best of the iconic movie screenings is ‘Sunset Boulevard’ on August 7.
There’s a knack to doing Somerset House like a pro. Arrive early, as close as possible to 6.30pm when the doors open, and mark your turf with blankets (near the screen is best). Screenings don’t start till 9pm, but DJs will be playing music inspired by the film. You can also pop into an exhibition of posters inspired by this season’s films. Take a picnic (no glass bottles), blankets (it gets chilly when the sun goes down) and – this one is super-important – cushions. Those cobbles show no mercy!
Here are three films with tickets still available:
Best of Ten: Kubrick
We know that one of Stanley Kubrickís films will be screening next Wednesday. But which one? The audience has voted but won't know until the night. Aug 11.
'Captain Fantastic'
Viggo Mortensen will be at Somerset House to introduce his new comedy-weepy about a hippy superdad raising his kids off-grid. Take tissues. Aug 17
'Ex Machina' + 'RoboCop'
It's man v machine in this dazzling double bill of artificial intelligence sci-fis: Alex Garlandís 2015 hit and the cult '80s dystopian classic. Sat Aug 6.