100 years on from its ban, one of cinema’s most iconic films returns to the big screen, brought to life with a thrilling live accompaniment by S!nk.

Amid the upheaval of the 1905 Russian Revolution, the crew of a naval ship rises up in protest over their abominable conditions, sparking a mutiny that ignites hope in the people of Odessa and triggering a brutal crackdown by the Tsarist autocracy.

Told in five riveting chapters, Sergei Eisenstein’s dramatised reconstruction of real events is a cinematic landmark, hailed by critics as one of the greatest films of all time. With its bold composition and rhythmic editing, it showcases the radical energy of young Soviet cinema and continues to inspire filmmakers today.

Banned in the United Kingdom upon release for fear it could incite revolution, Battleship Potemkin holds the record for the longest proscribed film in British history. To mark the 100^th anniversary of this visionary and controversial film, the Hippodrome presents this special screening with live accompaniment by Scottish improvisational ensemble S!nk, acclaimed for their immersive and explosive soundscapes. 

Eisenstein hoped a new score would emerge for Battleship Potemkin every twenty years to ensure the film continued to captivate new audiences – S!nk’s performance promises to do just that.

Dir. Sergei Eisenstein | USSR | 1925 | 12A | b&w | Russian intertitles with English subtitles | 1h 13m + intro (captioned)

With: Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barsky, Grigori Aleksandrov, Ivan Bobrov

Original Title: Броненосец Потёмкин

Performing live: S!nk (Daniel Dumnov, Matt Wright, Tim Vincent-Smith)

Content Advisory: mild violence, mild threat, mild gore, an instance of antisemitic language (contextually condemned)

Images: courtesy of British Film Institute

Special Multi-Ticket Deal: Pre-book for all three Taste of Silents in-person screenings for just £36 (£30 concession). No booking fees!

S!nk are a “trio of musical ninjas” (Kate Stables, This is the Kit). Based on their core formation of sax, accordion and violin they have progressively broadened their instrumentation - from making their own tuned percussion, playing ‘under the hood’ of a piano and using found sounds and electronics to expand their sonic palette.

Their live shows are a scintillating, dynamic experience, with their “near telepathic interplay” (Stewart Smith, The List) and expressive inventiveness creating unique shared moments, from pin-drop tension to explosive, joyful lyricism. Since 2018 the band have been selling out shows in their very own Pianodrome - the world’s first 100-seater amphitheatre made entirely from pianos.