Paris movie theater skirts lockdown with alfresco screening

Christine Davenier watches the film Man Without a Star by King Vidor as it is projected by members of the Association Home Cinema, who support La Clef historic cinema, on the wall of an apartments building during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

The coronavirus lockdown forced the team running Paris's La Clef cinema to close their auditorium to moviegoers. So they hit on an alternative: projecting movies onto the wall of an adjacent apartment building.

“We said to ourselves: ‘If we can no longer show films to an audience inside a cinema, let’s take away the walls and show films outside’,” organizer Derek Woolfenden told Reuters on Friday, shortly before the screening of 1955 Western “Man Without a Star” starring Kirk Douglas.

Under the lockdown restrictions, Parisians are confined to their apartments except for brief outings to shop for food and exercise. But they can catch the movie by looking out or their windows or stepping out onto their balcony.

The film Man Without a Star by King Vidor is projected in the wall of an apartments building by members of the Association Home Cinema, who support La Clef historic cinema, during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

“We could feel a desire in the neighborhood for some sort of event because there’s nothing left, the streets are empty, it’s very sad,” Woolfenden said.

The La Clef team took pains to engage the local community in its initiative: the titles to be screened each week are chosen in consultation with the neighbors.

"It’s great," said Christine Davenier, an illustrator, who was watching the film from her balcony, where she sat propped up on pillows.

President of the Association Home Cinema Derek Woolfenden poses for a picture before the projection of the film Man Without a Star by King Vidor, to support La Clef historic cinema, during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

"It takes us back to before, to screenings when we watched films all together."

The people behind the projections are used to adapting to changed circumstances.

The La Clef officially closed its doors in April 2018, and the owners plan to sell the property.

The film Man Without a Star by King Vidor is projected in the wall of an apartments building by members of the Association Home Cinema, who support La Clef historic cinema, during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

But since September 2019 the building has been occupied by an association of cinephiles and independent movie makers, headed up by Woolfenden, who oppose the sale and say they will stay put to ensure the building continues to serve as a cinema.

The group has been ordered to pay a 4,000-euro fine for occupying the site, but has lodged an appeal that will be heard in June.

People watch the film Man Without a Star by King Vidor as it is projected in the wall of an apartments building by members of the Association Home Cinema, who support La Clef historic cinema, during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

(Reporting and writing by Johnny Cotton; editing by Christian Lowe and Sonya Hepinstall)

People watch the film Man Without a Star by King Vidor as it is projected in the wall of an apartments building by members of the Association Home Cinema, who support La Clef historic cinema, during a lockdown imposed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes