The Fisher King (M) 35th Anniversary PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

The Fisher King (M, 1991) 35th Anniversary Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth in partnership with RAC

Cynical New York shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) sees his life collapse after one of his on-air rants inspires a listener to commit mass murder in a Manhattan restaurant. Three years later, Jack is a broken man working in his girlfriend Anne's (Mercedes Ruehl) video store, drowning in guilt and alcohol. When he's rescued from a suicide attempt by Parry (Robin Williams), a delusional homeless man who believes himself a knight on a quest for the Holy Grail, Jack discovers a horrifying connection: Parry's wife was killed in the massacre Jack inadvertently caused. Parry, whose real name is Henry Sagan, was a brilliant medieval history professor before trauma shattered his mind. Now tormented by visions of a demonic Red Knight and convinced the Grail resides in a billionaire's Fifth Avenue mansion, Parry needs Jack's help to win the heart of Lydia (Amanda Plummer), a shy office worker he worships from afar. As Jack reluctantly becomes involved in Parry's quest, he discovers redemption might require embracing madness, magic, and compassion.

Director Terry Gilliam brings his distinctive visual imagination to Richard LaGravenese's screenplay, creating a modern fairy tale set against Manhattan's gritty reality. The 1991 film seamlessly blends magical realism—Grand Central Station erupts into a waltz, the Red Knight manifests Parry's trauma—with unflinching portrayals of homelessness and mental illness. Robin Williams delivers one of his finest dramatic performances, balancing Parry's childlike wonder with glimpses of the broken man beneath. Jeff Bridges makes Jack's journey from selfish cynic to reluctant hero utterly convincing, while Mercedes Ruehl won an Oscar for her tough, loving Anne. Roger Pratt's cinematography transforms New York into a landscape of both wonder and despair, while George Fenton's score captures both whimsy and heartbreak. Gilliam's film asks whether redemption is possible and answers with unexpected grace.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Thursday, June 4th at 7:20PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Medium level coarse language, Violence)

Gilliam's magical realist masterpiece finds redemption in madness - experience Williams' heartbreaking performance in 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth and RAC