FITZCARRALDO (PG) - HYDE PARK LIDO - LONDON

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The screening site is at The Lido Garden, next to the Hyde Park Lido Cafe, beyond the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Nearest tubes are Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge. Click on the Show Map button at the bottom of this listing to see the site location on our Google Map.

Please note that for public safety and environmental reasons, glass is not permitted anywhere in the Royal Parks. If bringing a picnic, please bring plastic cups and plastic bottles instead. Many thanks.

On the banks of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, we invite you to join us for cinema under the stars. The Nomad and The Royal Parks’ summer-long season continues with a three night run at Hyde Park Lido, presenting three very special films under the banner of International Explorations.

On Saturday night we bring you Fitzcarraldo, regarded by many as Werner Herzog’s greatest work. Set in menacing, boiling Amazonian Peru, Fitzcarraldo is a roaring, torrenting fever dream of obsession, greed, madness and man’s battle against wild nature. Fire-eyed, white-crested, longtime Herzog collaborator (and tormentor) Klaus Kinski plays Brian Sweeney “Fitzcarraldo” Fitzgerald, an opera fanatic determined to build the greatest opera house the world has ever seen on the banks of a treacherous section of the Ucayali. To do this he must transport a clapped-out river steamer down the river with a rogues’ gallery of assistants and a team of enslaved Indians, before physically pulling the 340 ton ship over land and hilltop, from one fork in the river to the other. What makes Fitzcarraldo so fascinating is the fact that Herzog and his crew had to achieve the same feat, with a similar team, so that the whole enterprise has a very real, almost documentary feel. The tension in places is oppressive yet spellbinding. The production itself was troubled from the outset – Jason Robards contracted dysentery and had to be flown home; Mick Jagger was then earmarked for the lead role but after prolonged delays on set, had to rejoin his Rolling Stones on tour. This meant Herzog reluctantly invited Kinski to join the production. Kinski’s ranting and wild behaviour so disturbed the native Indians that they offered Herzog the opportunity to have him killed. Death threats were similarly exchanged between Herzog and his leading man. There was a plane crash which killed several crew members. Almost as wonderful as the film itself is the Les Blank documentary Burden of Dreams, telling the troubled making-of story – be sure to check it out afterwards…

Why not book yourself in for all three nights at Hyde Park Lido? On Friday 29 July, we present Jim Jarmusch’s delightful Night On Earth, with Emir Kusturica’s Danube-set Gypsy farce Black Cat White Cat concluding a spellbinding weekend of outdoor cinema on Sunday 31 July.

Hyde Park Lido Cafe will be open, serving snacks, wines, beers and spirits. Bring something warm to wear for after sunset. Places are limited so please book early to avoid maaasive disappointment.

We’ll be doing 20 Nomad events in London’s Royal Parks this year - view the full schedule for Royal Parks outdoor cinema.

Please note that for public safety and environmental reasons, glass is not permitted anywhere in the Royal Parks. If bringing a picnic, please bring plastic cups and plastic bottles instead. Many thanks.

The Lido Garden, next to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and across the road from the Serpentine Gallery. Nearest tubes are Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge.

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