Cinema in Corona times: possible but controversial

The first cinemas open again: are there still chances for the cinema summer?

• As part of the corona loosening, many cinemas are now opening to visitors again
• Distance rules * make it difficult, especially for small cinemas
• Cinema operators doubt the restrictions 

Masks in the cinema - that was the privilege of Zorro or Spiderman. If it has been allowed to spend a few nice hours again in Hesse and a few other federal states in the past few days, it is better to take your mask with you. however, breathing masks are required for the stay in the foyer (where snacks can be bought as usual) and the walk to the toilet. The whole complexity of the different regulations in the federal states is likely to be more of a headache for cinema operators than for guests. There is a minimum distance of 1.5 meters in all federal states, which means five square meters per visitor in Hesse. This only allows a maximum occupancy of 20-25 percent, as Christine Berg from the board of the main association of German film theaters of the German press agency explains. “If two places are occupied, 12 must remain free. Protecting guests and employees is a top priority. But we have the feeling that the rules for cinemas are insanely strict. ”

Visiting the Corona Crisis: Empty Seats, Empty Boxes?

For the guests this means in concrete terms that they may sit next to their companions, but that several seats next to, in front of and behind them must remain free. But how should small cinemas with such restrictions still make programs? Christian Brauer from the Filmkunsttheater-Verband "AG Kino" recommends the Austrian rules only one meter away. This should not lead to the blocking of entire rows, but rather allows a kind of checkerboard assignment.

In reality, it looks so far that almost only the big movie theaters open, for smaller houses it is not commercially worthwhile. One of the pioneers in Hesse is the Gelnhausen cinema , where Christian Bale and Matt Damon are currently racing across the screen again in "Le Mans 66 - Against Every Chance".

Cinema summer despite Corona: Many cinemas open again

"But what does it mean: it's worth it?" Asks Andreas Heidenreich, CEO of the Federal Association for Local Film Work, based in Frankfurt. “It is culturally worthwhile to make an offer, especially in difficult times. I have the impression that film art is currently working particularly well, because 'Kangaroo Chronicles' may be better seen in the drive-in cinema. ”

But the multiplexes also have a hard time, because there are still no new "goods" *: It is commercially senseless for film distributors to bring the big Hollywood films to the cinema, for example, if there are no nationwide exploitation options. In return, this could bring smaller artistic films into the big houses. The theatrical release of Christian Petzold's Berlinale jewel "Undine" is now planned for July 2nd. 70 cinemas have already pre-ordered the Berlin city fairytale, as can be learned from the Piffl distributor.

Good news for film lovers - cinemas reopen after Corona break

Film lovers may well expect this day as the unofficial starting signal for this cinema summer. The cinema in the Frankfurter Filmmuseum will also resume its official gaming operations on that day. In a conversation, director Natascha Gikas literally bubbles with program ideas: “We have not yet been able to show many films from our ranks about Mario Adorf and Maximilian Schell, but we would also like to show some of the Go East Festival that could only take place online. “For example, the work of the Romanian film artist Radu Jude would be appropriate. In any case, even demanding films should ensure a "full house" - because, as Gikas calculated according to the distance rules, you already have 22-30 people.

For Fabian Schauren, managing director of the Federal Association for Local Film Work, the audience has probably not weaned off watching films in the Corona crisis , as the current boom in drive-in cinemas shows do not question, because the air can not be extracted like in an airplane. And that you walk past each other in the aisle shouldn't be a problem. ”

Controversial corona rules for cinemas - this is what the visit could look like 

In discussions with cinema makers , medical reservations seem to be resolvable . However, the danger from the aerosol, i.e. floating liquid particles in the air *, is fundamentally undisputed for the spread of viruses. But film events are not worship services: "We certainly don't show 'The rooster is dead' now," jokes Andreas Heidenreich, referring to the interactive short film by director Zoltan Spirandelli. The audience is encouraged to sing the well-known canon in three parts. For the time being, the signs point to coolness in the Corona cinema : on the safe side you are in films in which neither tears are laughed nor cried.

By Daniel Kothenschulte

* fr.de is part of the nationwide Ippen Digital Network.