A landmark of 1980s British cinema and the Film4 library, Stephen Frears' poignant Oscar®-nominated drama My Beautiful Laundrette celebrates its 40th spin cycle in 2025! Riverside are delighted to be screening this film with a special recorded introduction by the film's writer; Hanif Kureshi.
This film plays as part of 'Against the Grain', a new UK & Ireland-wide touring season curated by Cinema Rediscovered founder Mark Cosgrove and spotlighting 1980s British Cinema.
Omar, a young British Pakistani man, takes over the running of a dilapidated laundrette with former flame Johnny. Johnny’s unsavoury racist affiliations aren’t enough to overcome their chemistry and their affair resumes in the face of family pressures and cultural conflict. Hanif Kureishi’s Oscar-nominated screenplay crackles with wit and warmth in the face of racial tensions and homophobia and remains one of the most celebrated takedowns of Thatcher’s Britain.
£100/year gets you: 6 free cinema tickets, 10% off all tickets at Riverside, 10% off our various bars & bakery, free popcorn every cinema visit, no booking fees, AND MUCH MORE
