Mary Shelley - Schools Screening

Presented in conjunction with the Being Human Festival, this latest film from Saudi Arabian director Haifaa al-Mansour celebrates and champions a rebellious woman fighting to make her presence felt. This historical costume drama about Mary Shelley, focusing on the young life of the famous Frankenstein writer, spotlights the origins of her drive and passion that led to the publication of one of the greatest of gothic horror novels.

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (Elle Fanning) is an unusually mature and poised 16-year-old. Drawn to ghost stories and graveyards, she has a passion for reading and a desire to write her own works. When she meets the radical poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth), she becomes convinced she’s met her soulmate. Defying the disapproval of her father William (Stephen Dillane), the youthful Mary leaves home to be with Shelley, accompanied by her boldly flirtatious stepsister Claire (Bel Powley) who soon endears herself to the mad, bad Lord Byron (Tom Sturridge). Deeply affected by the death of her mother, Mary’s fascination with the possibility of re-animating life and her sense of loneliness and abandonment feed into the construction of Frankenstein’s famous, plaintive creature. 

While contemporary resonances with Shelley’s story of a woman trying to be taken seriously in a man’s world are clear, there is also much period detail to enjoy on display. Atmospheric and brooding, Mary Shelley is ultimately the story of a young woman finding her voice and asserting her independence. 

Dir: Haifaa al-Mansour
Ireland / UK / Luxembourg / USA 2017 / 2h / 12A

This event is sponsored by Being Human, a festival of the humanities. For more information, visit www.beinghumanfestival.org.

We are open for school bookings from 11:00 on Thu 23 August until Fri 2 November (with priority booking at our Teachers Preview).

Please book early as many films sell out. To be certain of our assistance with your travel arrangements please book before Wed 26 September.

To book, please call DCA Box Office on 01382 432 444.