The Universal Theory

2023 Germany

Screening: 11th May 2026, 118 minutes

Audience: 63

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Subtitles

A young physicist attending a scientific conference is drawn into a mysterious world of parallel universes, murder and secrets. Its striking black-and-white photography blends Cold War paranoia with cinematic references to Hitchcock and classic sci-fi noir.

Feedback from our members:

Score Feedback
5
5
5
Fascinating. Immersive and intriguing. Loved the noir feel and the references to earlier movies and techniques. Lighting was exquisite. A masterpiece?
5
Absolutely compelling. I'm not sure what happened but Johannes seemed to be & I was so sorry for him in his isolation & loneliness. Brilliant. Thank you.
5
Great fun! Brilliant stuff if a little long. Photography and music very good.
5
Incredibly atmospheric. Best film I've seen here.
4
Quite enjoyed.
4
Maybe we're all mad.
4
Compelling, engrossing - absolutely unique.
4
Beautiful b&w cinematography.
4
Disturbing, creepy. Against my expectations quite drew me in.
4
Cannot judge really because unfortunately I slept through the second half.
4
I was fascinated! Liked it. Filming in the dark stimulates the mind.
4
Hard to watch. Still trying to work it out. Very well done though.
4
Interesting & gripping film. Certainly in 1962 there were many living parallel lives - hiding their previous lives in the forties & fifties. Clever use of scientific framework to explore the tragedies of this time.
4
Loved the style. Intriguing but not sure what happened in the end.
4
Not sure I understood what was going on all the time but the cinematography was stunning & I was enthralled throughout wanting to know what happened next. More of these please!
4
It was exactly like one of my dreams - bonkers, but entertaining enough to want to continue watching. Hope the actors got danger money for all the fags they smoked!
3
Weird.
3
3
3
3
Oddball at best. Yes, quantum allegories I suppose, but that's it.
3
Could have done with a little editing!
3
Not sure about this one, need time to digest.
3
Erm... not quite sure what to make of it. It was certainly different - which is good, but also very strange.
3
Sorry but I didn't enjoy this film at all. The script writer must have been on LSD or similar.
3
I loved the drama that a black & white film can offer - but the time travel aspect was lost on me - if not the entire plot!
2
2
I think that's the weirdest film I've ever sat through. No idea if it was good, bad or indifferent. More light please!
2
Good music - original? Should have liked a warning about flashing lights. Afraid I zoned out of the story quite early on and never regained interest.
2
Not one for me.
2
Not my 'cup of tea'.
2
Utterly baffling. Grimmer than a physics lesson.
2
Too disjointed.
2
Not my cup of tea. Need a stiff whisky now!
2
2
1
So bad, I fell asleep.
1
This was honestly 2 hours of my life I will never get back. I think what happens when the lunatics run the film asylum is a film like this is made! As Spike Milligan says, 'I was going to read a poem by Shakespeare, but then thought no, as he never reads any of mine!' This film makes as much sense!
1
This was the worst film I have seen at the Fleet Film club.
1

Films are screened at The Harlington in Fleet every fortnight on Mondays. Everyone is welcome.

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Entrance is free for members How to join
Guest tickets are £6.00 at the door or available online

Doors open 7:30pm, film at 8:00pm.
Bar open from 7:30pm.