The incredibly strange rise and fall of the world's wildest cinema and how it influenced a mixed-up generation of weirdos and misfits.
Punk? Rock ‘N’ Roll? Kung Fu? LGBTQIA+ Cinema? Sexploitation? If that sounds like a good time, enter SCALA!!!.
In the eighties and early nineties, before shutting down, (coincidentally at the same time the cinema was in court due to copyright infringement), the Scala was the most iconic cinema in London.
Known for its rowdy crowds from the punk scene, its “Shock around the Clock” horror all-nighters and earning visits from icons such as the Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious, and Christopher Nolan (who apparently still carries his membership card in his wallet), the Scala inspired generations of globally renowned artists.
Co-directors Jane Giles (former Scala programmer) and Ali Catterall deliver previously unheard perspectives from the likes of musician Jah Wobble, filmmaker Isaac Julien and cult filmmaker John Waters. SCALA!!! comes alive with visceral animation, iconic movie clips, a great soundtrack and some of the most fantastic opening credits ever put on film.
“Certain cinemas showed certain types of films … the Scala … did all of it … they just went, we’re doing all of that, and we’re gonna add these fucked up films as well!” (Ralph Brown)