A young couple in Suriname is tested by the expectations of society and traditions in this timeless 1976 love story about finding your place in the world.
Wan Pipel is a compelling drama set in the vibrant backdrop of Suriname. The story follows the lives of Roy, a young man studying in the Netherlands, and Rubia, a Surinamese woman struggling with societal expectations. Roy returns to his homeland to reconnect with his cultural roots but is faced with the challenges of adapting to a world he left behind. As he becomes entangled in a passionate affair with Rubia, their love is put to the test by cultural differences and the weight of tradition.
Directed by Pim de la Parra, this film beautifully captures the clash between modernity and tradition, personal desires and societal norms. Wan Pipel is a timeless exploration of love, identity, and the universal struggle to find one's place in the world.
1976, Suriname, 1976, dir Pim de la Parra
This is a past event. Subscribe to our newsletters to hear about upcoming events
Booking fees
£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
Biographies
The Twelve 30 Collective
The Twelve30 Collective presents classic and contemporary films from the Caribbean and its diaspora, with an aim to changing the way Caribbean cinema is viewed within the global film landscape. Our name is inspired by the past days of watching movies at the old Caribbean cinema palaces—12:30pm was the time each day the first feature screened in most cinemas across the region. The name is also a nod to Caribbean cinema’s relationship to both Hollywood and Third Cinema.
“All Port-of-Spain is a 12:30 show/Some playing Kojak, some Fidel Castro” – Derek Walcott, The Spoiler’s Return
Lisa Harewood
Lisa Harewood (@lisafromtherock) is a digital storyteller. She produced the micro-budget feature A Hand Full of Dirt (2011) and wrote and directed the short film Auntie (2013). She is the creative director of the Barrel Stories Project, a multi-platform initiative launched in 2015 documenting the experiences of Caribbean families separated due to migration. A virtual reality component, Love and Seawater, was selected for talent labs at Sheffield Doc/Fest and IDFA DocLab Forum.
Jonathan Ali
Jonathan Ali is a film curator and writer. He is director of programming at Third Horizon Film Festival in Miami and co-founder of the Twelve30 Collective in London. He also holds programming roles with Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, Open City Documentary Festival, and the Open Doors programme at Locarno Film Festival. His byline has appeared in Sight and Sound Magazine and elsewhere.
Ananta Khemradj
Ananta Khemradj is a filmmaker, born in the Netherlands and grew up in Suriname. Her first documentary Missing Pages (2019) dealt with the question why her generation learnt so little about the turbulent history of Suriname in the eighties. Ananta’s mission is to start a conversation and find a new future for her generation.
See more film for less
Cinema 2
Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue.
Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Access
Cinemas 2 & 3 are located at Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican Centre’s main Silk Street entrance. There are a couple of steep, dropped kerbs and an incline to negotiate between the two sites. Level access from Beech Street.
Mobility
Each auditorium has three permanent wheelchair spaces (two in the third row and one in the front row) and 153 fixed seats with capacity for a further three spaces in the front row. Access to each auditorium is up a ramp. There are also a number of seats with step-free access.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
An infrared system for hard of hearing customers is provided in each auditorium; headsets or neck loops can be collected from foyer staff. The ticket desk counter is fitted with an induction loop.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.