Dir Barry Jenkins
2001 | 119 mins | US
English, Spanish with English subtitles
KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King

Barry Jenkins follow up his Oscar-winning Moonlight is a beautiful romance based on the James Baldwin novel of the same name.

In 1970s Harlem, newly pregnant Tish (KiKi Layne) races against the clock to prove the innocence of her lover Fonny (Stephan James) when he is falsely accused of rape. As he awaits trial, Tish desperately tries to find justice while her mother (a heartbreaking performance by Regina King, who deservedly scooped a Golden Globe) must decide how far she will go to secure her daughter’s future.

SPECIAL SCREENING GUEST – CALEB AZUMAH NELSON

Exeter Phoenix and Exeter City of Literature are elated to announce that number-one Times bestseller Caleb Azumah Nelson will be heading to Exeter on Tuesday 6th August as part of City Reads Film Season.

Caleb will introduce his directorial debut short film Pray, and talk about why Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk is so special to him, before signing copies of Open Water which was a Costa First Novel Award winner and shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year, and now features on the City Reads shortlist.

This screening will be preceded by short film:

PRAY
Dir. Caleb Azumah Nelson
2023, UK
Traversing grief, hope, first love and home, Pray is a portrait of brotherhood that looks at what we will do for the people we love, how we find joy in the midst of overwhelming despair, and how the community can lift us up.

Set in the glow of a South London summer, two brothers try to find freedom after the loss of their parents.Through parties of celebration, to gatherings of remembrance, two brothers strive to find freedom from grief after losing their parents.

City Reads

Open Water – Caleb Azumah Nelson

Based on his BBC Short Story Award shortlisted story, Pray is Caleb’s debut short film. Caleb has often spoken of James Baldwin’s influence, so Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk – which appears in a pivotal moment of Open Water – is the perfect choice to celebrate his first novel.

Find out more about City Reads, and vote for Exeter’s favourite novel here!

Exeter Phoenix and Exeter City of Literature are joining forces this August for a series of screenings inspired by the six books on the City Reads shortlist – come along to experience fantastic adaptations, cinematic inspirations, and a marathon Lord of the Rings screening to celebrate Exeter City of Literature’s mission to find Exeter’s favourite book!

Season ticket bundle. Purchase all 9 screenings for:

• Regular – £63*
• Members – £54*
• U 25 – £39*
• Children –  £39*

Purchase here >>

Independent bookshop First Draft Books will also be hosting a pop-up bookshop alongside this screening, offering up a selection of books directly inspired by the City Reads shortlist and films shown as part of City Reads Film Season.