Killer cinema: ‘Red Riding Trilogy’ at DFT tracks hunt for UK’s Yorkshire Ripper
Through March 28, various
Originally adapted for British television from David Peace’s series of crime novels about the hunt for the “Yorkshire Ripper,” a serial killer who terrorized England in the 1970s and 80s, Red Riding Trilogy is one of the year’s most thrilling cinematic events. These three interlocking tales deal with a different year in the search for the killer, and each of the three directors uses his own unique style to bring the story to the screen. While the three films stand on their own as bravura crime dramas, seeing the entire trilogy in sequence provides one of the richest and most memorable film noir experiences in modern cinema. We recommend you do it that way, though the Detroit Film Theatre gives you other options. You can pay one price ($10), and break up your viewing over three visits, if you choose.
A brief synopsis of each screening:
Red Riding 1974 (UK/2009—directed by Julien Jarrold), Lazy and libidinous rookie journalist Eddie Dunford (Andrew Garfield) is researching a series of abductions when he begins to suspect a connection between the crimes and the higher echelons of Yorkshire power; he’s soon in more danger than he could have imagined. The film is 105 minutes. Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m.
Red Riding 1980 (UK/2009—directed by James Marsh). Veteran police constable Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine) is recruited to officially take over the investigation, but his theories about the killings begin to incite a growing controversy over his involvement, particularly among his colleagues (96 minutes). Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 9 p.m.; Sunday, March 28 at 3 p.m.
Red Riding 1983 (UK/2009—directed by Anand Tucker). When a schoolgirl girl is kidnapped, Detective Maurice Jobson (David Morrissey) is startled by the clear similarities to a case he had worked years earlier, one in which the suspect — now in prison and deeply disturbed — was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty. (104 minutes). Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 11 p.m.; Sunday, March 28 at 5 p.m.
Special ticket prices apply. $10 general admission, $9 students,
seniors, DIA members. Ticket valid for all three films and may be used
together or on separate days.
The DFT is in the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue, in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. Access the DFT from the John R entrance.
