Culture

NAZA: The most important film of the year

The filmmakers of NAZA clearly know that beyond physical distance, emotional distance is what allows the violence in Gaza to continue, and shows us just how easy it is to ignore what is going on right under our noses.

In conversation with John Kennedy, “one of the most trusted voices in music”

In a media landscape often dominated by gossip, rumours, and sometimes pure hate, it’s undeniably refreshing to listen to John, a man who never lost sight of what really matters.

The legacy of the caricature

That the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the 2026 Academy Awards is going to be a serious tear-jerker was solidified by the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry over two consecutive days.

The problem with Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Nolan had all the tools for greatness. Instead, to my eternal frustration, his 'Odyssey' will always only be just alright.

The Tortoise and the Fair

Kathleen Bloomfield and Lauri Saksa spend the day watching and photographing Oxford's annual tortoise fair

Review: Paul Hillier, Theatre of Voices – Stories

Paul Hillier leads Theatre of Voices in an enthusiastic and dramatic performance of John Cage and Luciano Berio

Knowing the score

Cherwell reports on the Cavatina Trust, an organisation aiming to break down the stuffy conventions of classical music

Review: Friendly Fires – PALA

The trio from St Albans offer us a sophomore album which, despite its tropical beats and infectious ambience, doesn't fully live up to expectation

Review: Kate Bush Director’s Cut

Cherwell is unconvinced by Kate Bush's latest offering which remasters and reimagines her old hits rather than offering up new ones

An odd future for hip hop?

Thomas May talks about how Tyler, The Creator has taken his transgressive act from the blogosphere to the mainstream with aplomb

Mambazo are on a mission

Cherwell chats with Albert Mazibuko, one of the original members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The Lives of Others

Jessica Goodman's skilful street photography captures the lives of others in just one click

One lucky bastard

Christy Edwall hears Tom Stoppard at the Sheldonian discuss the role of the artist

Review: Les Précieuses ridicules

Helen Tatlow passes a whimsical hour at Moliere's comedy of manners

And the rest is art history

Cherwell talks to art critic and Christ Church alumnus Andrew Graham-Dixon

Joe Cornish: Chip off the old block

Cherwell speaks to first-time director Joe Cornish about his film Attack the Block

Painting the moment

Cherwell meets painter Clova Stuart-Hamilton to discuss Oxford Art Weeks, painting Calpol, and ‘in the moment-ness’

A right repentant madam

May Anderson is entertained by The City Madam

Review: Smother

Wild Beasts return with a cleaner, more atmospheric album

Papa Loach… and son

Cherwell takes a look at Ken Loach in the wake of the directorial debut of his son, Jim

Review: The Rover

Fiamma Mazzocchi Alemanni is wooed by Restoration comedy, The Rover

Review: She Was Yellow

May Anderson is provoked by a five-star production of a stunning piece of new writing

Review: Beastly

This revisiting of Beauty and the Beast set in high school makes The Twilight Saga look like a masterpiece

Review: The Miners’ Hymns

Jóhann Jóhannsson delivers an avant-garde concept album inspired by the miners of North East England

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