Donnerstagskino – Thursday Cinema
On the first Thursday of every month, the lecture hall of the Ethnological Museum is transformed into a small cinema.
Various documentaries and feature films are shown that otherwise rarely flutter across Zurich's screens. Under the title "Social Anthropological Topics of the Time" ("Ethnologische Themen der Zeit"), we offer insights into distant and close everyday life and tell stories of other ways of living and realities.
The films will be introduced briefly. Admission is free; reservations are usually not necessary.
Fall Semester 2025
Flavors of Memory: Vietnam on Screen
From September to December 2025, in conjunction with the exhibition "Symphởny of Spices – Vietnamese Roots, Global Routes", we present a film series that explores Vietnam's identity, history, social transformation, and culture of remembrance through the lens of food, family, history, and changing urban landscapes. Featuring films and documentaries by acclaimed directors, the series highlights Vietnam's vibrant heritage and the enduring spirit of belonging across generations and borders.
Thursday, 11 September 2025, 7 pm
"The Taste of Pho" Film by Mariko Bobrik, Poland/Germany, 2019, 83'; Languages: Vietnamese, Polish; English subtitles.
Thursday, 2 October 2025, 7 pm
"Forgetting Vietnam" Film by Trịnh T. Minh-hà, Vietnam/South Korea/USA, 2015, 90'; no dialogue; English intertitles.
Thursday, 6 November 2025, 7 pm
"Cu Li Never Cries" Film by Phạm Ngọc Lân, Vietnam/Singapore/France/Philippines/Norway, 2024, 92'; Language: Vietnamese; English subtitles.
Thursday, 4 December 2025, 7 pm
"Hanoi Through Whose Eyes?" Film by Trần Văn Thuỷ, Vietnam, 1983, 45'; Language: Vietnamese; English subtitles.
"The Vanishing Village" Film by John Kleinen and Lennart Kleinen, Vietnam, 2015, 24'; Language: English.
You can find our complete current programme of events in our calendar.
Discover past film series in the archive.