CINEMA. LOVE.

It was time for a real day of cinema. A day of cinematic experience. For someone who loves the experience of being in a cinema and watching a film on the big screen so much, I have rarely time and money to spend doing so. So, conveniently, Tuesday last week was a day for reduced cinema tickets, only a fiver each film, that’s practically nothing compared to an evening at the cinema during the weekend, in a 3D film with popcorn and beer or other drinks. 

I went to see WILD, a real wanderlust maker, although Reese Witherspoon’s character is dealing with a heavy past: heroin addiction, the end of a marriage, the death of her beloved mother. But this scenery, this long and hard walk! Inspirational, to say the least. The second film I saw that day was UNBROKEN. Although it reminded me very much of Clint Eastwood’s two works THE FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS and LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, I liked to watch it. It favours the U.S. side of things more than it acknowledges Japan’s trial (it tries, but overcoming the Japanese sadism is focused on). This is, somehow, understandable, given that it is a Hollywood production, but somehow very unbalanced for a women/actress turning UN ambassador turning director. The story was near perfect, a real cinema story, I loved the actors (Jack O’Connell and the wonderful Domhnall Gleeson who everyone is wondering how to pronounce that name, except for us who have been studying and living in Ireland thankfully). 

Yesterday I went to watch THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, translated to DIE ENTDECKUNG DER UNENDLICHKEIT (The Discovery of Infinity, not so bad for a change), and I loved the actors. Eddie Redmayne was amazing and certainly deserves the Oscar nomination; Felicity Jones captivated me so much I didn’t dare to miss a second of her emotional, powerful performance.  

So my greed for watching a film in cinema is okay for now, for January anyway. But what exactly is it that draws me to the big screen, the darkness inside the room furnished with velvety and red cushions? Alas, I’m in decreasing company, cinemagoers are a rare breed, in 2013 there were 130 million cinemagoers in Germany (as much as in 1993), but that’s 4 per cent less than in 2012. 2001, however, was a record-breaking year of almost 178 million visitors! That was the year of the first HARRY POTTER, DER SCHUH DES MANITU, LE FABULEUX DESTIN D'AMÉLIE POULAIN and A KNIGHT’S TALE, for instance. According to FFA statistics, the average age of the cinemagoer increases slightly over the years. But enough of figures, back to the mystical place that is the cinema.  

The darkness

Shutting out everything else. No distraction from other movements than on the screen, the ban on using your mobile phone. The darkness envelops you and transports you into the realm of your imagination. The real world doesn’t exist. At least for some 130 minutes. 

The big screen

It makes a difference if you see the character’s pain in a monumental close-up or on your TV. No matter how big the screen in your living room is; the big screen in the cinema is always better. That’s my whole argument. 

The popcorn

Yes, strangely enough, there are people who don’t like popcorn! For me, popcorn is one of the main reasons why I go to the cinema. First, you walk into the lobby and there’s this sweet, roasted smell of popped corn. Instantly, you know you’re in a cinema and your whole body goes into enthusiasm-swing-mood. Germany is only one of few countries that offers sweet popcorn, all the other (strange) countries make it salty. What?

Showing respect for all these names in the credits

It might come from my choice of profession but watching the credits until the end (the very end!) certainly expresses my respect and my admiration for the sheer amount of people who created this film. Hundreds of names and job titles I have never heard of run down the screen – and I am happy.  These countless names absolutely mirror the truth of the film world and once you know a little bit about filmmaking you will know and appreciate that there are so many people doing so much important stuff in the office or on the set. Also, it’s just mighty fun to pick out the curious names in the crew. Oh, a German name! Oh, this must be Irish. Haha, someone’s name is longer than two lines! What? Laura Dern had a personal make-up assistant, additional to the “normal” make-up assistant? My favourite word and job title: the Gaffer. What is his job? Have a look here. 

(PS: For all my English speaking readers: Gaffer in German is a not so nice description of someone just standing there, loitering even, and starring at something or someone)

What is your favourite thing about watching a film in the cinema?