A celebration of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster imagination at the IFI

Saving Private Ryan, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List,  Empire of the Sun, and the brand new War Horse – A celebration of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster imagination

8th – 21st Jan

One of the most successful, influential and, perhaps above all, popular filmmakers of all time; Steven Spielberg has consistently captured the imagination in a career spanning more than four decades. To accompany the release of his new film, War Horse, the IFI is screening a short season of Spielberg’s best-loved films, giving his countless fans a chance to see them back in the cinema and on the scale that they deserve.

The season highlights two of his recurrent themes, war and childhood; and reflects something of his intriguing duality as both an entertainer and chronicler. As an entertainer he’s created unforgettable heroes such as whip-cracking archaeologist Indiana Jones, shown here in Raiders of the Lost Ark in glorious 70mm, as well as tapping into our most primal fears in the archetypal shark attack movie Jaws, pitting flawed masculinity against one of nature’s most fearsome predators.

As a chronicler, Spielberg unflinchingly reconstructs 20th century horrors such as the destruction of the Polish ghetto in Schindler’s List, World War II in the Pacific in Empire of the Sun, or the carnage of the D-Day landings in Saving Private Ryan. The man who has made some of the best-loved popular films of all time has also not shirked from showing the appalling behavioural extremes of which humanity in its darkest moments is capable.

On 14^th Jan at 3.10pm author and academic Neil Sinyard will examine Steven Spielberg’s extensive career, with an emphasis on the titles showing in this programme, including his latest epic, War Horse. The talk will be free though reservation through box office is advised.

Steven Spielberg Season Schedule

Raiders of the Lost Ark         8^th Jan  4.10pm & IFI Family Screening on 29^thJan  11am

Jaws                                       13^th Jan  11pm (as an IFI Horrorthon double bill with a preview of Intruders) & 16^th Jan 6.40pm

Empire of the Sun (70mm)    14^th Jan  4pm

Schindler’s List                       15^th Jan  1pm

Saving Private Ryan              21^st Jan  1pm

War Horse is screening as a new release at the IFI from Friday, 13^th Jan

Tickets are available from the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie.