slice of life

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slice of life 〰️

I love going to the cinema. Always have. However, something that I want to clarify first is that my taste in films is atrocious. Most cinephiles-loved films will not get more than a meh from me, whereas I will give five stars without hesitation to any films that makes me have a good time, regardless of how good or bad the filmography, script, and acting actually is.

Because that’s the thing, I don’t want to go to the cinema to be brutally hit in the face by the horrors and realities of life. I don’t want to pay to see an elaborate metaphor about how everyone sucks, or a 100th film about a male character experiencing a midlife crisis and making it everyone’s problem (only to be praised when he solves problems he himself created).

If I want to see what type of world we live in, I turn on the news.

When I go to the cinema, it’s to live an experience. To be transported into a story, a world, into something that will make me feel good. Either with beautiful imagery, hopeful messages, banging music, good comedy or interesting characters. I go to the cinema to be entertained.

I have now been going to the cinema for years, but only started doing it alone across the past three years. Most of my friends who have the same taste in films as I do are in a different country, and the ones who are in this country are often not available, or we tend to have very narrow options for films we’d all enjoy.

I noticed that I subconsciously started implementing rituals every time I went out to the cinema alone. So I decided to share them with you.

I have two types of cinema outings. Let’s start with the posh pretentious one.

the cultural outing

Ironically, I call it posh but these are usually the one that cost me the less. The BFI has seasons with specific themes when they screen old, foreign or independent films that would not necessarily be found in a regular cinema like Vue or ODEON. This sounds very pretentious but actually, since they have a -25 y/o discount, I very rarely pay more than £5 for a screening, even if it includes an intro or a Q&A with Directors, Actors or Screenwriters. I once saw a total of 3 films on the big screen for £12.

First I look for a film through their printed program (I get the one for the following month every time I’m there because it’s also perfect for scrapbooking with all the screen captures), and book my ticket in advance.

I go into London, get myself a crêpe at Southbank because it reminds me of my mom (she worked in a crêperie/restaurant and makes the best crêpes I’ve ever eaten, I’d give you the recipe but her explanation is “I just go by the feeling” so yeah good luck with that). I then make my way to the screening while eating it. Once there, I take the paper that they leave at the entry of the room, it has the explanation and analysis of the film and how it fits in the topic they have chosen. I always make sure to get there a bit in advance to have time to skim through it, and also because they don’t show any ads. So if they tell you the screening starts at 20:10 the film does start at 20:10.

On my way out, I always walk along the Thames and cross the bridge next to the railway that leads to Charing Cross, on the side where I can see Big Ben. It’s silly, but it’s moment like these that allow me to appreciate where I live. And also just to remind me that, damn, I moved to London, I did that. It’s a nice stroll that always brings a smile on my face, whether the sky is blue, grey or dark.

I like these outings because I get to watch things that extend my views and make me reflect on what is considered entertaining in other countries or time periods. It always feel very human. The crêpe and the stroll over the bridge give me this warm feeling by tying me to my roots, and making me feel lucky and grateful for where I am and what I have. It’s always a nice outing if I’ve been feeling down.

the fun outing

Now this is when I go to see mainstream films, that’s when I go to a Vue cinema. Usually either to watch an animated film, a comedy, or a film that got me hooked either by trailers or excerpt on social media.

This is usually a more chaotic outing.

Firstly, I live one station away from my closest cinema. Which in my mind is the equivalent of being next door. And as we know, the closest you are to something, the more likely you are to be late. I always leave my house way later than I should, meaning that I always end up running from the station to the theater. I checked, when walking it’s about an 8-10 minutes walk depending on how crowded it is. I once managed to make it in 5, my next objective is to try 4 (mind you I hate running, but the cinema overrules all of my brain’s programming).

Because I am always running against time, it also means I skip the popcorn shopping (sweet popcorn is superior, I will not take criticism). I sit down in my seat, out of breath, but right on time for the trailers to start.

Or did I forget to mention? I consider the trailers as part of the experience, I do not want to miss the trailers (the ads can get run over by a combine though). Trailers are a part of my life, I grew up on Disney VHS when you had to sit through snippets of all their films before getting to the menu. In the cinema, the trailers are how I decide what I’m going to watch next, and what I’m definitely not going to watch. It’s fun!

When the film ends, that’s when I go get my popcorn. I rushed all the way to the cinema, and on my way out, I buy myself a sweet regular popcorn, and eat it while casually walking home. It allows me to remain in the movie for a bit longer before going back to the stress of my everyday life. I associate the taste of popcorn with cinema, so eating it while I’m leaving makes me feel like I’m still there.

I’m curious to know if anyone else has any little rituals associated with going to the cinema. Let me know if you do, I’d love to hear about it!!!

Also something I forgot to mention but it applies for both the cultural and fun outing, when going to the cinema I am either overdressed (like going to the opera or the club type of overdressed) or in the theme of the film I’m watching. There are no other options, casual viewing is not in my vocabulary. The cinema is an event!

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