"Bad boy. Bubby. What a naughty boy."
On Wednesday 3rd September, Be Kind Rewind Bristol returns to the basement of The Ill Repute with one of the most unclassifiable and unforgettable cult films of the 1990s: Bad Boy Bubby (1993).
👉 Please note: this screening takes place on a Wednesday, not our usual Thursday slot!
Banned, celebrated, condemned, and revered — Bad Boy Bubby is a film that pushes the limits of cinema. Directed by Rolf de Heer and starring Nicholas Hope in a truly fearless performance, it tells the story of a man-child who’s been locked away in a single room by his abusive mother for 35 years, with only a cat and a warped view of the outside world to keep him company. One day, he leaves.
What follows is a wild, often uncomfortable, often darkly funny journey through society as Bubby encounters religion, science, cruelty, kindness, music, and madness — all with the wide-eyed confusion of someone experiencing the world for the very first time.
Shot using 32 different cinematographers to reflect Bubby’s shifting perception of reality, this film is both a confronting piece of social commentary and a strange sort of liberation story. It’s not an easy watch — and definitely not one for the faint of heart — but it’s brilliant, bleakly beautiful, and completely unlike anything else.
🕖 Doors at 7pm / Film at 8pm sharp
🎟️ Free entry – no tickets, first come first served
💺 No admission once all seats are taken
📍 Downstairs at The Ill Repute, Old Market, Bristol
⚠️ Trigger warning: Contains scenes of abuse and disturbing content. Viewer discretion advised.
If you’ve seen it, you’ll know. If you haven’t — this is your chance.
One night only. One room. One Bubby.
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