Cinemas are back! After another semi-lockdown that forced cinemas to close, we can finally enjoy a proper movie-going experience again. Sure, it might be capped at 50% capacity and you can only sit with one person beside you instead of the classic cinema experience of having your girlfriend on your left while a dude who munches popcorn loudly is on your right. Sigh, nostalgia! But we'll take what we can get for now. Though it's easy to simply go to the nearest mall to go to the cinema, we're spotlighting places that offer a different experience. These indie cinemas deserve as much love as any of the multiplexes do. After losing iconic places like Scala and Bangkok Screening Room, we should do what we can to keep these cinemas alive. Get the popcorn and settle in. It's time to go back to the movies.
DOC CLUB & PUB
Woof Pack Building, Sala Daeng 1 Alley
DocClubAndPub.com
One of the saddest closures caused by the pandemic that affected film buffs of Bangkok was Bangkok Screening Room. For years, the indie cinema championed the lesser-known non-blockbuster films from all across the globe. Fortunately, someone has taken over the very same space to put up another indie movie house. Doc Club & Pub screens a number of great films that may not be increasingly popular commercially and they also show documentaries like The New Rijkmuseum, which follows the journey of the rebuilding of Holland's most famous museum. On top of all the movies you could watch, they also serve a number of food and drinks from snacks like nachos and toast to proper meals like pizza and a couple of pastas. The "pub" part of the establishment can hopefully make a comeback soon once the alcohol ban lifts for restaurants. You can buy an annual subscription for B500, which gives you one free ticket to any movie at any date, as well as a 10% discount on future movies, food and drinks.
HOUSE SAMYAN
Samyan Mitrtown, Rama IV Road
HouseSamyan.com
House RCA was one of the very first indie cinemas in the City of Angels. When it announced closure, there was an immediate sense of relief when it stated that it was close to simply, ahem, move house. Now part of the hip mall complex, Samyan Mitrtown, the re-christened House Samyan resumed its service of giving Bangkokians another place to enjoy films aside from the commercial choices. Guests also have the option to purchase a lifetime membership for only B500, which gives you perks like a discount on tickets, access to member-only events and some swag like a tote bag and T-shirts. Check their website for showtimes on films that are screening like Supernova, a romantic movie starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, as well as to get a glimpse at other films coming soon like the Japanese horror film Suicide Forest Village, which will start screenings on Oct 13.
LIDO CONNECT
Rama I Road
LidoConnect.com
Along with the nearby Scala, the Lido Theater was one of the choices for moviegoers back when names like Major and SFX weren't around yet. Lido carries with it a lot of history having been built in 1968 and when it announced its closure in 2018, it made clear that the cinema would close for good. Fast forward a year later and the revamped Lido Connect opened, retaining some of its classic charms though clearly having a fresh new look. To many people's surprise, one of its cinemas remained in operation. Lido 1 continues to screen films from documentaries like Aswang to more recent films like The Mauritanian. Their schedule is announced weekly so make sure to follow them on Facebook (fb.com/LidoCinema) for updates. After watching a film, you can also grab a bite to eat, do a little shopping on the ground floor and admire the renovated space while reminiscing about the good old days when yellow-jacketed ushers took your ticket stubs.
RCB FILM CLUB
River City Bangkok, Charoen Krung 24
RiverCityBangkok.com
RCB Film Club would hold monthly screenings that would showcase films from all over the world. It was a great way to get a glimpse into other cultures and be captivated by the storytelling of different filmmakers rather than just going for the easy blockbuster flick. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, they had to stop. But with restrictions being lifted, they've let us know that the RCB Film Club will resume this November. They will screen two films from different countries: On Nov 6, In The Life of Music from Cambodia will be screened. The film revolves around a song that binds three generations. On Nov 27, Canadian film Meditation Park, will be screened. The film shows the struggles and victories of the Chinese community in Canada. Both films will be supported by their respective embassies. For more details, follow their social media (fb.com/RiverCityBangkok). You can also email them directly at rcbfilmclub@gmail.com.
THAI FILM ARCHIVE
Phutthamonthon sai 5
Fapot.org
The National Film Archive was established in 1984 and was only restructured as a public organisation and renamed the Film Archive in 2009. They're reopening three exhibitions every day except Mondays: "The Spaceship of Nabua", "Genesis: The Birth of Cinema in Siam" and "Persistence of Vision". But aside from their exhibitions, they're also resuming the screening of films. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm until the end of the month, they'll be showing a number of classic Thai films that cover many different genres. You can catch classic love stories like the 1968 film E-Tan; or watch Thailand's first animated feature film The Adventure of Sudsakorn made in 1979; or see something somewhat more recent like 2001's Goal Club. On top of all the varied genres they're showing, all screenings are free of charge, so don't sweat the ticket fees!
CAFE THEATRE
There have been a couple of cafes that have popped up around the city that adopted a cinema theme. If you're looking to spend some time nursing a cuppa while reading a book or simply want to go to interesting cafes, they're definitely worth a visit. Here are a couple of our picks.
FICS
Sukhumvit 31
fb.com/Fics31
Though we've featured Fics in a previous cover story it had to be included on this list. The cinema-inspired cafe is complete with a marquee outside and a number of film posters adorning its walls, making it drip with film aesthetic that's worthy of your social media. Aside from the IG-worthy surroundings, Fics serves drinks and snacks inspired by the cinema or by various shows and movies. Their latest snack offering is the Benicio's Dorilocos, which is a zesty mix of Doritos, lime and jalapeño. They also sold Friends-inspired cookies last August with quotes from the show on each cookie. They also have a number of movie-inspired memorabilia that you could buy, perfect for any cinephile who wants to decorate their room accordingly.
SCENEMA CAFE
Thippawan 43, Samut Prakan
Visit fb.com/ScenemaCafe
Another cinema-inspired cafe dripping with vibes, Scenema Cafe mixes movie house aesthetics with a menu that consists of refreshing drinks, sweet desserts and a number of Korean dishes. There's also a popcorn trolley to complete the "Going to the movies" look, then you can take a photo in one of their cinema seats to upload to the 'Gram. Yes, we know you can do the same thing in an actual cinema but it's different when you're in a cafe (No? Just me?). When you're done eating your fill and taking photos on your phone, be sure to pass by the photo booth to get a printed photo. Yes, it's another photo but it's printed this time so that's different (No? Just me?).
PRINCE THEATRE HERITAGE STAY
Charoen Krung Road
PrinceHeritage.com
Including the Prince Theatre Heritage Stay is a bit of a cheat because it isn't actually a cafe but its history may perhaps justify its place here. Many years ago, the Prince Theatre Heritage Stay was actually one of the earliest movie houses in the city dating back to 1917. It would be present for the evolution of film from silent slapstick movies to the introduction of films with sound. It even screened nude films in its later years. Nowadays, it's a boutique hotel that still retains the look and feels of the classic movie house and pays homage to it in its design. On top of that, they have what they call the Box Office Bar, which serves a number of snacks, foods and drinks you can enjoy at the bar or at one of the tables, which has a view of their gigantic projector screen where they screen movies every now and then. It's a great place to have a relaxing meal while watching a movie while being in a building with so much history. If you're really feeling it, why not just go ahead and spend a night there?
