“One of the most stunning evocations of the pleasure of a party I've witnessed in film.” - New York Magazine

Suffused with the intoxicating sounds of reggae, dub, and lovers rock, Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock unfolds over the course of one rapturous night into dawn in early-1980s West London, as a young woman (the luminous Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) sneaks out to attend a house party. As the alternately languorous and ecstatic rhythms pulse from a homemade sound system, romance sparks on the dance floor, small human dramas play out, and, for a moment, this gathering is a safe haven from the outside world. Aided by the sensuous cinematography of Shabier Kirchner, McQueen captures an exhilarating expression of Black joy in a society often intent on stifling it.

Lovers Rock
Dir: Steve McQueen
68 min
2020
Rated PG for violence and coarse language
Film starts at 8:45 pm

About Deckchair Cinema
You are invited to enjoy classic films under the stars on Cates Deck in front of the Gallery. Now in its second year, Deckchair Cinema treats audiences to a summer of al fresco film screenings. Hosted for 10 Thursdays beginning June 29, the screenings commence at sunset, and will be complemented by music and entertainment leading up to curtain time. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and make themselves comfortable by bringing their own blankets or low chairs. An outdoor Meet the Makers market, curated by lifestyle brand OCIN, will feature drinks from local wineries and breweries, which can be enjoyed on Cates Deck, a public zone for alcohol consumption. Admission to Deckchair Cinema is by donation, courtesy of BMO Financial Group ($10 per guest is recommended), and includes access to the Gallery’s summer exhibition Jeremy Shaw: Phase Shifting Index.

View the full Deckchair Cinema lineup