Reopening of cinemas: excitement and historic record at the UGC Ciné Cité des Halles, in Paris

“Feel the energy”, “witness hope regained”… This Wednesday, hundreds of spectators flocked to the UGC Ciné Cité des Halles (Paris Ier) from the 9 am screening. Annie, 67 years old, came to see "Slalom", the trailer of which she liked, but she especially wanted to attend the reopening of the rooms: "It is the great happiness: the city, which was dead , relive! Sophie and Thomas, 23 and 24-year-old theater actors, took their ticket to "DNA" with emotion, after seven months "lacking" cinema. As for Sarah, Julie and Bertille, in their thirties, come to discover “Goodbye idiots” and “Slalom”, they are delighted to see so many people: “The gauges are at 35% so we have no apprehension. "

With 1069 spectators before 9:30 am, the UGC Ciné des Halles - the largest cinema in Europe in terms of attendance - this Wednesday morning broke its historic record at this time.

Many sessions are sold out, while respecting the gauges, such as those of "Mandibles", "Slalom", "The Embrace", "Rag Boy", "Drunk", "Envole-moi" and "Le Dernier Voyage".

Even animated films like "Tom & Jerry" and the cartoon "Demon slayer" have attracted a lot of people.

“It's colossal!” Enthuses Patrice Le Marchand, the venue manager.

When we reopened on June 22, we had 300 reservations;

today, we have 3000. "

Read alsoReopening of cinemas: "I will see six films during the day"

"This time, the offer is richer and the films released in October have almost become cult", continues the boss of the room, who admits "very happy for the 90 people of the UGC des Halles who do not 'haven't worked for six months'.

There is only the confectionery stand which is closed this morning: “The decree specifying what we have the right to sell fell last night at 3:30 am, explains Patrice Le Marchand.

It wasn't clear so we decided to wait.

Our priority is the films.

"

"The emotion is lively, clear, to see the spectators at the rendezvous"

Eight production teams made the trip to this cinema where the profession takes the pulse of attendance every Wednesday morning. Behind large dark glasses and under a colorful tracksuit jacket, Maïwenn says she is "very excited", "happy", but also "anguished for

DNA

, whose first release at the end of October was so amputated". Director of “L'Étreinte”, Ludovic Bergery is waiting for his actress Emmanuelle Béart, who has just recorded a radio show: “It's a whirlwind. It's very encouraging: all of a sudden, a window opens again. "

A little after 9 am, in room 4, Charlène Favier, the director of “Slalom”, takes the stage: “It's so good to see you! », She blurted out. A few meters away, applause resounded for the team of "Rag Boy" has just presented its film. The director and main actor Nicolas Maury comes out, breathless: “The emotion is lively, clear, to see the spectators at the rendezvous, he assures. The lesson of this period is that we cannot stay in our living rooms. "This Wednesday, the filmmaker will accompany half a dozen screenings of his feature film to" celebrate, together, the reopening. "

Two hours later, the "Rag Boy" session ends. Geneviève, 62, was delighted: “I was bubbling over to go back to the cinema. There, I really enjoyed the film, but also the promiscuity with the other spectators. "24 and 25 year old film students, Justine and Élise had a" wonderful "time:" We are planning to see five films today, with a lunch break on the terrace! "