In Paris, Ronald Chammah, owner of two small cinemas, recalls the bleak days of 2022, when he feared that the French love for cinema would decline due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Recently, however, Chammah has experienced a renaissance in attendance—particularly notable during a sell-out event featuring Armenian art-house directors. He marveled, "We broke the record for our theaters... it was full, all day long."
While the global cinema sector faced setbacks in 2024, exacerbated by Hollywood strikes, France's filmgoers appear to have embraced in-person viewing with renewed enthusiasm. Sean Baker, acclaimed director and Oscar winner, highlighted this contrast during his acceptance speech, warning about the continuing losses of American movie screens and their cultural impact.
Amid this international context, French audiences are being celebrated for their return to the beloved “salles obscures” or "dark rooms" of movie theaters. The Institut Lumière, a prominent film society in Lyon, emphasized that last year's audience numbers stand as a victory over both the pandemic and the encroachment of digital distractions. This sentiment encapsulates the deeply rooted French belief in the moral responsibility to support the arts, with many choosing to engage with cinema beyond the confines of their homes.
While the global cinema sector faced setbacks in 2024, exacerbated by Hollywood strikes, France's filmgoers appear to have embraced in-person viewing with renewed enthusiasm. Sean Baker, acclaimed director and Oscar winner, highlighted this contrast during his acceptance speech, warning about the continuing losses of American movie screens and their cultural impact.
Amid this international context, French audiences are being celebrated for their return to the beloved “salles obscures” or "dark rooms" of movie theaters. The Institut Lumière, a prominent film society in Lyon, emphasized that last year's audience numbers stand as a victory over both the pandemic and the encroachment of digital distractions. This sentiment encapsulates the deeply rooted French belief in the moral responsibility to support the arts, with many choosing to engage with cinema beyond the confines of their homes.
