In Montreal, the journalist Louis-Philippe Messier is mainly on the run, with his office in his backpack, looking for fascinating topics and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all areas of life in this city chronicle.
The large traditional cinema complexes are emptier than ever… but the small neighborhood cinemas are overcrowded.
“Are you crazy? Don’t talk about modern cinema in Le Journal!” asked a friend, anxious not to reveal the relative secret of this 54-seat space on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, whose antechamber is a café-bar.
To get tickets, check the calendar and book a few days in advance.
Louis Philippe Messier
The Cinéma Moderne organizes quiz nights in its café-bar.
The atmosphere is friendly, the popcorn is affordable and you bring your beer in the room.
“Hitchcock said that a movie shouldn’t last longer than the human bladder can support itself,” says philosopher Jarrett Mann, the location’s director.
OSCARS ON THE BIG SCREEN
The Cinéma Moderne has been in catch-up mode for Oscar-nominated films since Thursday.
Louis Philippe Messier
Jarrett Mann and Emmie Caron of modern cinema
“I selected 13 films for the Oscars to give people a chance to see them on the big screen before the results are announced… and several screenings are already sold out or nearly sold out,” Mann said.
Manager Emmie Caron designed a special Oscars cocktail with vodka, sparkling wine, pear syrup and golden flakes.
During our interview, representatives of the Cannes Film Festival in the area are watching Canadian films in order to “preselect” some of them.
During the day, the room is used by post-production specialists who do color work there.
“Directors, editors and cameramen work here and present their previous films to our audience in the evenings,” explains Alexandre Domingue, owner of the Cinéma Moderne.
LIKE AT HOME
Mr Domingue founded his cinema four years ago and was inspired by the ‘magic’ of private screenings at a friend’s house in a large loft on Rue Sainte-Catherine.
Station Vu, another small movie theater in east Montreal, also has a busy schedule.
Housed in the Casa d’Italia on Rue Jean-Talon Est, the Public Cinema fills its space, even though a sacrilegious Casa ordinance prohibits the consumption of popcorn.
“We are looking for a new address that will also be a place of community life,” says director Aude Renaud-Lorrain.