Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954) is a taut psychological thriller that masterfully explores the thin line between observation and intrusion.
The film centres on L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart), a photographer confined to his apartment due to an injury, who becomes an unwitting voyeur of his neighbours’ lives through his camera lens.
As Jeffries’ curiosity transforms into obsession, Hitchcock plays with the audience’s complicity, drawing us into an eerie world where the act of watching becomes both seductive and dangerous. The lush performances of Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter heighten the tension as the suspense builds toward a chilling climax.
Screened in response to Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s exhibition It Will End in Tears, Rear Window echoes the themes of isolation, perception, and the human desire for connection. Hitchcock’s masterpiece invites us to reflect on the ways we engage with others from a distance, exploring the emotional toll of looking without participating.
Courtesy of Park Circus
1954 USA dir Alfred Hitchcock 114 min
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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.
As Sunstrum’s works interrogate the spaces between presence and absence, Rear Window offers a visual counterpart—a gripping meditation on what it means to witness, to desire, and to bear the weight of knowledge unseen.
It Will End In Tears
Cinema 3
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.
