Bitter Christmas (15)

A grief story with a second script hiding inside it

Pedro Almodóvar's Bitter Christmas follows Elsa, an advertising director who throws herself into work after her mother's death, then travels to Lanzarote with her friend Patricia when migraines force her to stop. Alongside her story, filmmaker Raúl is writing a screenplay that gradually reveals itself as Elsa's life, blurring the line between memory, invention and the people around him.

This Spanish-language drama is a self-questioning take on autofiction, with Bárbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia leading the cast. It runs for about 111 minutes and screens with English subtitles, while the 15 classification includes strong sex references and upsetting themes around bereavement and mental health.

Ticketed. Check the Theatre page for current availability and booking.

Tuesday 13 October 2026 · Chipping Norton Theatre, 2 Spring Street, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5NL · Starts 7.30pm