Wednesday 11 November 2026
FILM – Moonrise Kingdom (12A)
5.30pm Depot
A screening of Wes Anderson’s whimsical, stylised coming-of-age film, set on a New England island in 1965,
featuring Britten’s music.
Moonrise Kingdom follows two troubled 12-year-olds – an orphaned Khaki Scout and a misunderstood local girl – who fall in love and run away together, turning their small community upside down. The film prominently features several Britten works, including Noye’s Fludde, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and songs from Friday Afternoons.
Anderson first thought of using Britten’s music before the screenplay was complete. His personal childhood experience with Noye’s Fludde significantly shaped the aesthetic and narrative of the film and Britten’s music functions both diegetically (as music characters hear/perform) and structurally (as emotional architecture for the story). Anderson has spoken about Britten’s music as a colour and inspiration for the film’s mood and thematic resonance.
“Britten’s music is something I’ve always remembered, it made a very strong impression on me.
It’s the colour of the movie in a way.” (Wes Anderson)
Director – Wes Anderson
Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton