“I love the energy of the place!” : the open-air cinema at La Villette attracts a large audience

It's one of the biggest cinemas in France, but there are no hard seats.

Two categories of spectators then emerge.

On one side, the “comfort” team, armed with camping chairs of all kinds and green deckchairs rented by La Villette.

In the middle, their master… a huge red airbag.

Opposite, the "adventurers" team and its tablecloths, sheets and other beach foutas.

The two live together on good terms.

With a seating capacity of 9,000 and the entire space of the Triangle meadow to inhabit, everyone can settle down wherever they want and the open-air cinema lends itself to original layouts.

The sessions are enjoyed seated, leaning on the torso of one's spouse, lying in a circle around a picnic… This Thursday evening, “Eden”, by Mia Hansen Løve, is performed.

Many people come well before the time of the session, to spend some time with friends.

Like Anna, Marina and Ellen, in their twenties, business school students, who arrive at La Villette for the first time this summer… Without even knowing what will be screened.

Finally, they still spotted the presence of Vincent Lacoste (in a small role) in the casting.

“A great setting, to see the works differently”

“We came for a social moment” announces Olivier, in his forties… Immediately contradicted by his friend Clotilde: “We still chose this session for Mia Hansen-Løve… You love it, Pierre and me too.

My mother is playing in the next one (“Un beau Matin”), did I tell you?

The French director has her fans tonight.

Like Nathan, 22, a fashion student who adores her and wants to catch up on a movie he hadn't seen before the next one came out.

For the social moment, he will have to go back: "I was expecting a friend but she won't come in the end... I'm still in good company, that said," he laughs as he opens his book, Nicolas Mathieu's Goncourt, " Their Children after them”.

Same thing for Eva and Ana, two DJs who chose the evening based on the feature film.

The first has already appreciated it,

the second is familiar with open-air cinema.

And confesses: "I came a lot

here.

I love the energy of the place!

»

Sitting in the grass a little further, François Bourdil, in charge of programming at La Villette, claims "a great setting, to see the works differently".

The theme is always chosen - one year in advance - to attract the widest possible audience.

It is then up to the team to build a "programming accessible to all, so that it remains a popular cinema".

The goal is to attract neighbors and regulars, "those we recognize because they come every evening", but why not also tourists for an evening.

Like Thylane and Laure, 22-year-old Lyonnaises, visiting their Parisian friend Cyrielle.

All three discover the place: “We came to enjoy the atmosphere.

Even in Lyon, I had never done a session like that…”

The Triangle meadow is gradually filling up.

After those who were picnicking, come those who only come for the film.

Around 9 p.m., the team inflates the screen: a gray mass rises little by little to become a canvas of 600 m2.

Night falls quickly, but during the first minutes of the screening, we are still between shadow and light.

The sun is finally disappearing… Make way for the cinema!

La Villette outdoor cinema.

Next sessions: “Dancer in the dark” Friday 12, “Eyes wide shut” Saturday 13, and “La Vie est belle” Sunday August 14.

Every day except Monday and Tuesday until August 21.

Free.

Deckchair rental: €7, group rate €20

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https://lavillette.com/programming/cinema-en-plein-air-2022_e1550