A different movie experience

A friend and her daughter recently went to watch a movie at The Labia. It turned out be quite an experience. The Labia is the oldest independent cinema in SA. It plays “alternative” movies in an old Italian embassy ballroom, complete with velvet drapes and a stage. The old-world ambience dates back to the late 1940s. I may be mistaken, but the seats probably date back to then too.

It took a while to buy the tickets (from the antique ticket booth) and to locate the popcorn machine attendant but they had arrived early. Soon they were clutching their brown paper bags of popcorn (I swear it tastes better) and their tickets for Screen Four. They made their way to their seats in the dusty old cinema and settled down to watch My Week with Marilyn... nothing happened.

They started chatting to the three other patrons in the cinema to pass the time. After half an hour she decided to go out and check what was happening. The projectionist had “forgotten” to come but this was a minor hitch that was soon sorted out and before long the movie started... but not the movie they had come to watch. She checked the tickets – yes, it said Screen Four and this was Screen Four.

Back she went to the ticket booth. No, My Week with Marilyn was playing on Screen Three. They had already seen The Artist which was playing on Screen Four so she went back to collect her daughter and they crept into Screen Three. She says it was a great movie. She just needs to see the first half hour sometime.

It reminded me of a story our Mauritian friend tells about the local cinema there. Apparently people phone up the manager to hold the movie because they are running late. And then when they do finally arrive, it is with flasks of tea and samoosas which gets offered around. There is much shouting across aisles as people recognise each other, before everyone settles down and the movie can begin.

Hmm...I always thought Ster Kinekor lacked a certain something...