Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 9 pm
Directed by: Mike Leigh
United Kingdom, 1999
In January 1884, the operetta Princess Ida is premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London, with its composer Sir Arthur Sullivan so ill that it is doubtful whether he will be able to conduct the orchestra. He then goes to continental Europe to rest and recover. Producer Richard Carte invites Sullivan and his regular collaborator, the playwright and librettist W. S. Gilbert, to create a new piece for the Savoy. However, the two authors cannot agree on what that work should be…
After a relative career lull with the film Career Girls, Mike Leigh has returned to full form with the film Topsy-Turvy. Interestingly, this time he hasn't done so with his characteristic contemporary realist drama of strong social impetus, but with something few would have expected from him – a musical about a pair of authors of light operas or operettas from the Victorian era, more precise about their creative falling-out over the creation of their most popular piece, The Mikado. The critics were almost unanimously enthusiastic about this (one-off) turn for Leigh, particularly praising the film's design – the cinematography, production design, costume design, and make-up/masks, all in the service of a very convincing reconstruction of the Victorian era.
But Leigh had not entirely abandoned his realistic style – and here the meticulous, detail-oriented director is evident, and the chronical nature of the narration was not a new feature in his oeuvre. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Jim Broadbent won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of W. S. Gilbert, and was later nominated for four Oscars: Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup, winning in the latter two categories. Additionally, in a poll by the prestigious magazine Village Voice, it was ranked second on the list of films of the year (behind Being John Malkovich), while Mike Leigh was named Best Director.
Comment by: Damir Radić
Tickets for the screening on 9 September 2026 at 9 pm can be purchased online HERE, as well as at the Surogatkino KIC box office one hour before the start.