Cinema after Lockdown

In a movie he could dream without effort; all he had to do was lean back in a seat and keep his eyes open.
Richard Wright

This week I went to the cinema. If five months ago, you read that sentence, it would promote a reaction of, “so what?”. Today your response might be quite different.

Since the hard lockdown ended, I have travelled on a train and visited a pub and a restaurant. I have also shopped for clothes and had my haircut. Each first time with nervousness, wariness, and uncertainty as I reacquainted myself with what were regular and routine activities. Activities I once found comfortable, relaxing, and entertaining. Yet, in doing them now, I find myself keeping my distance from people. Or wondering just how thorough an establishment’s COVID-19 precautions might be.

My motivation in taking these ‘risks’ was a belief that ‘life must start to go on’ and a feeling of responsibility to support local businesses. The livelihoods of others depending upon it.

Having come to terms with train travel and visiting a pub and restaurant etc. my next challenge was the cinema. Sitting within a closed environment, with others, for an extended period.

I’m a member of a small ‘art-house’ cinema group. One of their cinemas is in Bath. I felt more comfortable going there than a large multiplex. My belief that the staff would be more cautious. Taking extra steps to protect their patrons. I also decided that my return to the cinema would be to see a film that I wished to see, but that might not have universal appeal — more on that film in a moment.

Unlike my usual habit, I arrived at the cinema moments before the film was due to begin. No point queuing unnecessarily! No, buying of treat or drink. The staff were forceful in their direction of what to do and where to go. In usual times one might feel they were rude and yet in these more cautious times I took comfort in such instruction.

Mask on, hands anti-Bac’d, the one-way system followed I took my seat still feeling nervous. I suspect the two other customers (I did say this wasn’t a mainstream film) in the auditorium felt likewise. We exchanged swift, wary glances at each other, silently measuring the distance between us. It was way beyond the two metres. The cinema booking system obviously working as it should.

Watching the ‘coming-soon’ adverts was a little surreal as several had dates in the past. The distributors no doubt felt there was little point going to the extra cost of updating them.

Once they were over, the light faded, and the feature began. Five minutes later, the magic of cinema absorbed me, and all thoughts of COVID-19 disappeared.

I would recommend the film I saw. ‘Proxima’ centres on a female French astronaut, Sarah, who has qualified through to a stay on the International Space Station. However, this brings the challenge of leaving her 7-year-old daughter, Stella, to whom Sarah is close. Stella is to live with Sarah’s’ ex-husband, Thomas, while Sarah is in space.

Many films on space exploration are from the male perspective; Apollo 13, The Right Stuff, Apollo 11. ‘Proxima’ refreshingly takes the female perspective. But a female that’s not conveyed as some pseudo-macho character. It’s a simple story but very well told. The loving relationship of an ordinary woman (with a not so ordinary career) and her child.

‘Proxima’ avoids cliché. The characters well-drawn. The performances are believable. It’s written with a full sense of the reality of crew training for spaceflight. Yet, coupled with how people manage the challenge of prolonged separation from loved ones. Something with relevance after the lockdown. It’s a moving and intelligent piece of film making that would appeal to a broad audience.

If you do feel comfortable going to the cinema then you could do worse in going to this. If you aren’t so comfortable, then watch out for it on streaming etc.

Stay safe. My next challenge is taking a flight in around a month from now.

Onward!