Withnail and I (1987)

London, 1960s. This British cult comedy follows two unemployed young actors who spend their days in their polluted apartment and live on not much more than alcohol and drugs.

While their careers just don’t want to get off the ground, the paranoia is growing and the liquor supply is dwindling. In a desperate attempt to escape their miserable existence in London, the boys move to the countryside. What follows is a disastrous trip and full of bad weather and tragicomic excesses.

Bruce Robinson based Withnail and I on his years in London as a novice actor. In his own words, it is ”a tale of English hopelessness” that ”doesn’t know it’s funny”. In this absolute cult classic – praised for its flowery and sharp dialogue – it is ultimately the bittersweet portrait of a rather special friendship that remains.

★★★★★ Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
”I am intensely envious of anyone seeing this glorious classic for the first time.”

This film is the second part of de Uitkijk’s summer series CINEMAATJES, in which friendship is central.

The people at de Uitkijk have kindly offered a limited amount of free tickets for Subbacultcha members. Please make a reservation by sending an email to mailinglist@subbacultcha.nl with “Withnail and I” in the subject line + your name in the email.