POP UP CINEMA BRIGHTON
White Wall Cinema presents
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH
IN TRIBUTE TO TOM NOONAN
WHAT HAPPENED WAS
4K RESTORATION
DIRECTOR: Tom Noonan
STARRING: Karen Sillas and Tom Noonan.
One of the most remarkable independent American films of all time, and the Winner of the Sundance Festival Jury Prize in 1994, What Happened Was began life as a stage play by actor Tom Noonan, perhaps best known for his extraordinary performance in the original Hannibal Lecter movie, Michael Mann’s Manhunter.
Sadly passing away this year as an actor Noonan had appeared in films as varied as Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, The Monster Squad, Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train, Last Action Hero, and Heat (also directed by Michael Mann). If there were any justice, however, we feel this screen adaptation of his play, also written, directed, and starring Noonan, should be the film he is best known for.
Taking place over the course of a single evening in a New York City apartment, two work colleagues embark on perhaps the most awkward and revealing date in cinema history. As the pair navigate the social expectations and emotional strains of a first date, something much more profound about modern loneliness is revealed in this starkly real, darkly humorous, and relentlessly probing film, which asks: who are we really on the inside?
Awkwardly mismatched timing, casual misunderstandings, and veiled dark confessions converge with expert direction and beautiful camerawork to create one of the most thrilling, emotionally resonant, and intriguing films in all of American cinema.
A key influence on legendary screenwriter-director Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, etc.), What Happened Was has been repeatedly exalted by Kaufman as his favourite film. He went so far as to cast Noonan in his films Synecdoche, New York and Anomalisa, and even penned an as-yet-unmade sequel for Netflix.
Deeply funny, unconventionally terrifying, strangely moving, and criminally underseen, don’t miss this rare chance to see it on the big screen.
DOORS: 7.10pm*
START TIME: 7.40pm*
RUN TIME: 91 mins
CERT: 15 (Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult)
LOCATION: Wagner Hall (Regency Road, Brighton)
*Please note - doors open at 7.10pm in advance of screening time in order to give patrons extra time to purchase food & drink, look at our archive movie store and to allow gradual entry to your seats in a safe and easy way. Please try to allow extra time to get seated prior to the performance start time of 7.40pm. There will usually be no admittance from 20 minutes after the films stated start time. No hot food or alcohol from outside the premises is allowed. All alcoholic drinks consumed on the premises must be purchased from the bar as per the conditions of the venue's licence. For more information about screenings and the venue please visit our Venue & Screenings Info page.