A new thriller starring Oscar-nominated star Lesley Manville has announced a UK premiere, coming this side of the pond in June as part of SXSW London. Directed by Kasia Adamik, Winter of the Crow stars Manville as Dr Joan Andrews, a British psychiatric professor in Cold War-era Warsaw who finds herself embroiled in political turmoil when the country enters martial law in December 1981.
Inspired by the short story 'Professor Andrews Goes to Warsaw' by Olga Tokarczuk, Winter of the Crow has a script written by Sandra Buchta. Also staring Tom Burke, Zofia Wichłacz, Andrzej Konopka, this spy thriller is set to screen at SXSW London following its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival last September.
After its TIFF debut, the movie received positive reviews, with IndieWire branding it "a gripping story of totalitarianism" and a period piece that's "a small miracle of evocation".
Related: UK film release dates
Elsewhere, Variety praised Manville's performance as Dr Andrews, with their review noting that the Phantom Thread star "carries the film with an air of increasingly raw determination".
Screen International also argued that the film radiates "plenty of mainstream appeal" thanks to its "pace, gritty Bourne Identity-style approach and Manville's gripping turn".
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Winter of the Crow is but one of the films receiving their UK premiere at SXSW London, with Sundance queer horror Leviticus and Olivia Wilde's latest, The Invite, also screening at the festival.
Sofia Coppola's documentary about fashion designer Marc Jacobs, Marc by Sofia, also plays at the festival after its premiere at Venice International Film Festival last September.
Among the most anticipated titles at SXSW London is Jane Schoenbrun's third film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Hacks' Hannah Einbinder and Sex Education's Gillian Anderson. Schoenbrun's film will close the festival ahead of its wider release on 21 August.
Winter of the Crow will have its UK premiere at SXSW London, running 1-6 June.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
