Alternate film venues : A great cinema experience

By Susitha R. Fernando

Where can we go to see those rare and really good films is a question that film lovers and enthusiasts often ask. Though they are a must to be watched by those who seriously study cinema, most of the times they are not available in ordinary CD shops. Worse is that sometimes owners of the DVD shops themselves have even not heard them. In this regard the service rendered by the diplomatic missions has not been recognized or appreciated. It's a little known fact for many that the cultural sections of a number of foreign diplomatic missions screen films most of the time totally free of charge. And added to this is that most of these places have a pleasant environment where you can be relaxemd and undisturbed unlike in some of the cinemas where you will hear people talking, shouts from the outside or feel nudges on your seat from behind and many more.

Kathleen Fox, Press and Cultural Affairs Officer at American Centre

Tough they are not as big as the theatres you find around the city yet they create a homely atmosphere where you will find regular patrons who would later definitely become your friends. The TV Times this week made an attempt to make Sri Lankan film enthusiasts aware of these alternate film venues.

American Centre at Galle Road, Colombo-3 has been hosting weekly film screenings in Colombo for more than 30 years and presently screens films every Tuesday at 6 pm. There movies are shown in a 50-seat theater on a large projection screen using state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

Speaking on its film screening Ms. Kathleen Fox, Press and Cultural Affairs Officer said ‘We show a variety of films ranging from timeless Hollywood classics to brand new releases. The films chosen each month reflect a theme that is important in American culture and society, giving our audience some insight into American life’. The American Center seeks to inform our audiences about American society, history and culture in order to strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of Sri Lanka and the United States, she added.

American Centre too provides additional service to film lovers by facilitating them to use its library which has an extensive movie collection of over 450 titles, including feature films and documentaries, as well as, popular new releases and award-winning classics. ‘Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for the screenings, whether you're interested in learning more about American culture, or simply want to enjoy a good movie’ said Ms. Fox.

For those lovers of classical cinema or art films or those seriously interested in this moving art, Goethe Institute, or German Cultural centre is the most ideal place. Goethe celebrated its 50th anniversary in Sri Lanka and ever since it continues sharing great cinematic experiences both German and European.

‘Learning to read a new language, the language of film we have created a regular Film Forum every month, always on a Wednesday at 5.30 p.m’. added Richard Lang, the Director of the Goethe-Institut, German Cultural Centre briefing the service of Goethe. In terms of films, Goethe is not interested in commercial cinema but in art film, documentary and experimental films.
‘Art films, impactful co-documentaries, experimental films, thematically challenging films, new films from 'Sri Lanka, from Germany and from other countries, as long as they exemplify cinematographical topics we are discussing. Often we show an entire series. All films are with English subtitles or English dubbed’ he explains.

Goethe has a theater called Goethe-Hall with the biggest screen outside commercial cinemas. Goethe has a steady group of approximately 70 in the core group of the Film Forum. It was established to create a knowledgeable crowd of film lovers able and willing to see, debate and perhaps write to the media critiques about art films.

And in all films shown at the Film Forum are kept in the Goethe library and media collection for reference purposes and research and are available for viewing for research and film critique purposes. ‘The newest ‘move’ is to bring famous filmmakers closer to Sri Lankan audiences. In this process we commemorate herewith a great cinematographical icon," Mr. Lang said.

As part of this move, Goethe, last week showed two films of the famous Italian filmmaker Michaelangelo Antonioni on November 5 and 6 (in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and the Sri Lankan-Italian Friendship Society. Alliance Francaise, at Barnes Place, Colombo-7, the Cultural centre of the French diplomatic mission is a place where rich French cinema can be enjoyed. The screening has been continuing for more than three decades and has developed with the times.

With a seating capacity of 100, it has two film screenings, one every Tuesday at 3.00 pm and another every Wednesday at 6.30 pm. It brings a variety of cinema experience feature film docudrama and animation on various subjects like social issues, history and entertainment.

Alliance Francaise has a regular crowd of 50 to 60 who enjoy French cinema. With their participation it also has initiated a ‘Cine Club’ to have open discussions and share ideas on cinema. Keeping a step ahead the French Embassy joining with other diplomatic missions of French speaking countries; Canada, Belgium and Switzerland organize film festivals at a public venue in Colombo annually.

Situated in the heart of Colombo, the Russian Centre Colombo is yet another venue where monthly screenings of not only Russian films, but world renowned classics are screened during its monthly film show. ‘Gone with the Wind’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, 'Singing Nun’ ‘Mary Poppins’ are some of the world renowned films that are screened here.

‘We basically screen not only Russian films but any good film including the gems of the world cinema and cinematic experience from independent cinema’ Chandi Aluvihare the Cultural Officer of the Russian Centre said. ‘I get very good response from the regular patrons and sometimes it is they who suggest the films’ she said.

Russian Centre film screenings also creates opportunity for family outings where films that can be enjoyed by the whole family is screened. With a seating capacity for 200, the air conditioned theatre with the latest sound systems is a cozy place for patrons.

However unlike other diplomatic centres film viewing is not totally free now. It charges Rs. 50 for the screening. ‘We are not commercialized but for the sake of maintenance and also to avoid people being unnecessarily hanging around here we charge this’ Vindya said. In months to come film lovers will be able to watch films like 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'Saturday Night Fever' and many popular movies.