BFI Melodrama "Law of Desire" with Live Performance from Abi Asisa

In collaboration with the BFI's nationwide "Too Much: Melodrama on Film" season, Theatreship presents a series of nights dedicated to getting swept away by the power of emotion on the big screen. Our season, "Never Too Much," champions the genre's unapologetic intensity, celebrating its enduring influence and emotional depth. We'll explore iconic and forgotten melodramas from around the world, inviting audiences to cast aside their cynicism and embrace the passion, drama, and glorious excess of the cinematic experience. Each film will be paired with a bespoke live performance, a talk, or a new short film, making each night a unique, immersive exploration of the genre's timeless appeal.

Law of Desire

Duration: 102 minutes
Rating: 18

To celebrate one of melodrama’s greatest contemporary masters, Theatreship will screen a mini-series of key works by the legendary Pedro Almodóvar - “All About Almodóvar”. This is an evening dedicated to one of his most iconic and transgressive films, Law of Desire. A searingly emotional melodrama from 1987, the film follows the passionate and tragic love triangle of a gay filmmaker, his obsessive lover, and his transgender sister. Bold, beautiful, and unflinchingly honest, this film explores the true cost of passion with an intensity only Almodóvar can deliver.

The screening will be paired with a live performance from Abi Asisa . The London-based producer and electroacoustic cellist, whose work blends classical, jazz, and experimental influences. Originally from Brighton, she moved to London at 19, where she shifted from traditional cello performance to more improvisational, genre-fluid music. Inspired by artists like Oliver Coates and Eartheater, she layers and manipulates her cello to create textured, emotionally rich soundscapes.

A member of the multidisciplinary collective Life is Beautiful, Asisa frequently collaborates across music, dance, and visual art. She has performed at venues such as Café OTO, The Southbank Centre and Tate Britain, and was a 2024 resident artist at the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation.

Explore her work on SoundCloud and Instagram.

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