The vast majority of French cinemas remain open, says the National Federation of French Cinemas. Announced in the middle of the day by the Prime Minister, the ban on gatherings of more than 100 people will, however, require the 2,040 cinemas in France not to accommodate more than 100 spectators per room. "Every day, it will be necessary to reassess this device to stem the progression of the epidemic", specified on BFMTV the Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, in audio duplex from his home because he himself was affected by the virus.
In addition, two emblematic Parisian places announced this Friday that they were temporarily lowering the curtain because of the epidemic: the Cinémathèque française, located in the 12th arrondissement, and the Forum des images, installed in the Forum des Halles (1st arrondissement ).
These two closings and the maximum threshold of 100 spectators are in addition to the measures taken two weeks ago due to the coronavirus. Currently, one hall in Ajaccio and two in Brittany have closed their doors until further notice, and other establishments must limit their attendance: in Corsica and in the Haut-Rhin, cinemas cannot accommodate more 50 spectators per room; in the Oise and in two rooms in Morbihan, the occupancy rate of the armchairs must not exceed 50%.
"Operators will be able to schedule pickups"
Other establishments have decided to apply more drastic measures than restricting the 100 seats occupied per session: on its Facebook page, the Kinepolis network, which has 13 sites in France (in Lomme, Mulhouse, Brétigny-sur-Orge, Nancy, Nîmes, Rouen, Toulouse…), thus specified that it would henceforth limit the attendance of each room to 95 spectators maximum. "The rooms whose capacities are lower than 110 places see their capacities reduced to 30 places, this in order to guarantee safety distances between each spectator", also indicates the message.
If, on the vast majority of the territory, the dark rooms can therefore theoretically remain open, very many films planned in the coming weeks have seen their release staggered. Originally announced next Wednesday (March 18), the feature films "Petit Pays", "Pinocchio" and "Sans un noise 2" have postponed their release to later dates that are still unknown. Among the films due to be released on March 25, six have delayed their release: "Adolescentes", "Bloodshot", "La Daronne", "The Demon inside", "Divorce Club" and "Mulan" (the next Disney).
In the following weeks, other feature films have already left the poster: "Clear history", "Pierre Lapin 2", "Mignonnes", "New Mutants", "Hungry" ... or "Die can wait, "the next James Bond. "The spectators can still see or re-watch the films already released and the exhibitors will be able to program covers", one tries to positivate to the National Federation of French Cinemas.
Film buffs divided between fear and fatalism
If few cinemas should, for the time being, remain completely closed, moviegoers remain in doubt. “We are waiting. Nobody really knows what's going to happen, ”says François, at the end of a multiplex in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.
Etienne, a fan of blockbusters, is worried. “I come to the cinema three or four times a week and I am afraid that I will no longer be able to come and see my American films. It would make me funny not to be able to come to the cinema anymore, says this 59 year old man. I will have to find new occupations if that is the case ”. Same story with Leila, who came to spend a few days in Paris. The young woman of 30, who intended to take advantage of her stay to go to the cinema, admits: "I will not go to a room. I have a mask in my bag that I can put on if, once in the room, I realize that there are a lot of people. But I would find it ridiculous to want to close the cinemas ”.
The tone is different for Christiane, 85, who has an unlimited pass. Come to see "The good wife", with Juliette Binoche and Yolande Moreau, she says she is less dejected than expected. "We would stay in bed if it closed," she jokes. " It does not bother me. I am thinking especially of those who have to go to work. Given my situation, I have no right to complain, ”says the retiree. Anne, 70, does not fear either a potential closure of the rooms. “In the past we didn't have a cinema. We can do very well without it. We can do a thousand other things! ", She declares, while keeping the hope of being able to attend a screening of" de Gaulle ". Didier, who arrived in extremis three minutes before the start of the session, agrees. “You have to be careful, but generally, there are fifteen people, a maximum, in the room. We have enough to keep a certain distance from the other spectators, ”smiles this assiduous film buff.