Freaks - Film Screening

About Freaks - Film Screening

This Valentine's weekend, Leith Kino presents Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932). 

Freaks tells the story of circus performer Hans (Harry Earles), who has recently inherited a fortune. He attracts the attention of the beautiful Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova), a trapeze artist working at the circus. Her true intentions are soon discovered by the other performers after it's revealed that Hans is being poisoned and duped, and the film turns into a tale of revenge. 

Known as the “grandfather of disability horror”, this pre-Code film was shrouded in studio censorship and audience revulsion, subsequently damaging Browning’s filmmaking career. Freaks is a complex yet groundbreaking disability narrative, boasting one of the largest ensemble casts of disabled people. Nearly a century since its release, Freaks is now regarded as a cautionary tale of human nature, revealing the true horror of ableism. 

Tickets cost £6 and we have allocated handful of free tickets for those not in a position to pay (available here). Please support your local Leith Kino!

Leith Kino!

A weekly community cinema night based at Leith Depot.

Join us for weekly screenings, celebrating films that are international, experimental, arthouse, trash, cult, a little bit strange, and maybe otherwise hard to see on the big screen.

Each screening will be introduced by a member of the Leith Kino collective and, importantly, there will be free (vegan) popcorn.

Drinks and refreshments are available to purchase at the Depot bar, alongside our monthly posters, each designed by a different Leith-based artist.

Leith Kino Access Information

• English subtitles will be onscreen for every screening, including descriptive subtitles where possible.
• The screening room is on ground level and is wheelchair accessible from the Leith Depot bar with flexible seating to accommodate specific requirements.
• There are accessible toilets in both the screening room and the bar.
• If you have any questions about access or if you need to reserve a specific seat, please email us at leithkino@gmail.com
• Leith Depot is well-served by public transport. It's a short walk from the Foot of the Walk tram stop, and there is a bus stop outside the venue for services: 7, 14, 16, 25, and 49