David Bradley hosts The Essentials, a curated cinema season at Palace Nova Cinemas celebrating some of the most important and influential films in movie history. Showcasing masterpieces from across genres and eras, each screening is chosen for its impact, storytelling and cultural significance, with Bradley providing insight and context to these formative works.
Breathless
(Jean-Luc Godard, 1960) PG
Date: January 18, 2026
A founding French New Wave classic about love, crime and youthful freedom — stylish, influential, and endlessly quoted.
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The Castle
(Rob Sitch, 1997) M
Date: February 15, 2026
A beloved Australian comedy about community, family values and the underdog spirit in the face of bureaucracy.
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Citizen Kane
(Orson Welles, 1941) G
Date: March 15, 2026
Frequently cited as cinema’s greatest film, it chronicles the rise and fall of a publishing magnate.
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O Brother, Where Art Thou?
(Coen Brothers, 2000) M
Date: April 19, 2026
A hilarious, music-rich odyssey inspired by The Odyssey, set in the Depression-era Deep South.
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(Disney, 1937) G
Date: May 17, 2026
Disney’s animation breakthrough that enchanted generations with its storytelling and songs.
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Do the Right Thing
(Spike Lee, 1989) R18+
Date: June 21, 2026
A powerful exploration of racial tension and community on one sweltering day in Brooklyn; one of Spike Lee’s most essential works.
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Akira
(Katsuhiro Ōtomo, 1988) M
Date: July 19, 2026
A landmark anime and science fiction experience with remastered visuals and sound for modern audiences.
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8½
(Federico Fellini, 1963) M
Date: August 16, 2026
A surreal, introspective masterpiece about a filmmaker’s creative crisis — cinematic dream logic at its best.
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Seven Samurai
(Akira Kurosawa, 1954) PG
Date: September 20, 2026
A sweeping epic of courage and strategy as villagers enlist samurai to defend them from bandits — foundational for action cinema.
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A Clockwork Orange
(Stanley Kubrick, 1971) R18+
Date: October 18, 2026
A provocative dystopian classic exploring violence, free will and social engineering.
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Psycho
(Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) M
Date: November 15, 2026
Hitchcock’s thriller that changed horror with its chilling story and unforgettable twists.
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It’s a Wonderful Life
(Frank Capra, 1946) PG
Date: December 13, 2026
A timeless heartwarming story about purpose, community and the impact one life can have — a holiday classic.
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See the full selection of Essential films at Palace Nova : palacenova.com.au/events/the-essentials
