if there’s a city that loves film more than paris does, i’d like to know about it. the parisians have a completely different relationship with the cinema than americans, or most everyone else i’ve encountered, do. parisians go to the cinema many times a week, the average number of the people i’ve encountered being as high as four times. four times a week! to a new yorker, that seems like a luxury i could never imagine having.
this past saturday, i went to see stanley kubrick’s 2001: a space odyssey at a tiny, underground theatre around the corner from the sorbonne. the theatre was about 3/4 full, but i was the only person there with a drink. there aren’t concessions in many french theatres, so it’s fine if you bring your own food and drink - but be warned, you may be judged (so avoid loud carbonated things or cellophane wrap like the plague).
i remember reading one part of me talk pretty one day, when david sedaris talks about how he loved to “see paris” from the cinema. although i think this is a novel idea (that i honestly didn’t think legitimate, i’ll admit), i’m coming to find he’s onto something here. since saturday, i went to see melancholia on sunday night, and just went to see the tree of life last night. there’s something fantastic about the feeling of enjoying a great film, and walking outside into a city you’re still getting to know. for these reasons, going to see a film (by yourself, if possible) in paris can be a truly transformative and informing experience.
