“Come on, we’re going to the cinema!” – hardly anyone remembers the advertising slogan from the 80s. And it should stay that way: The cinema operators in Lich and Grünberg may not believe in a reopening on March 22nd according to the step-by-step plan of the federal-state conference. But they are not only worried about increasing incidences.
The Hessisches Filmbüro eV, in which mainly art house cinemas are represented, appealed to politicians in February: The industry should not be allowed to lag behind when it comes to easing after the shutdown. Politicians must prevent the cinema from dying out due to the corona, and offer the cultural sector as a whole prospects for a new start, “ideally at Easter.”
As is well known, the federal-state conference decided on the “step-by-step plan” on March 4th. Movie theaters could then open from March 22nd – provided the incidence is stable below 100.
Will it come to that? Edgar Langer, on the board of the film office and with Hans Gsänger, operator of the »Traum-stern« cinema, has his doubts. Entitled.
Relaxation of contact restrictions and the virus mutant B.1.1.7. let us expect a third wave. Langer admits that his association has so far upheld the demand for opening at Easter. Looking at the latest figures, however, he adds: “It will not come to that.”
Whenever the time comes, the industry insists on a nationwide date. Otherwise, according to the spokesman for the art house cinemas, “commercial houses” in particular would have a problem. For example, when the competitor shows the new “Bond” shortly after the border four weeks earlier.
The “Traumstern” has never played that. Langer emphasizes that one could offer »enough great films«. There is also some catching up to do, such as the productions selected at the Leipzig Film Art Fair in autumn, but not played because of the lockdown light. The rental companies with whom one cooperates are also in the starting blocks.
Just like the traditional movie theater too. After the first shutdown a year ago, a comprehensive hygiene concept was implemented; The only thing to be mentioned here is the expansion of rows of chairs in order to create a central aisle, thus minimizing contacts. But why has the cinema industry not been treated equally? “We just don’t have the lobby like hardware stores. Culture is lagging behind, ”says Langer.
But he does not share the same horn as some critics. Doesn’t want to “push ahead”, knows about the dynamics of the pandemic. “It’s really difficult. We had no idea beforehand and now not much. ”He therefore does not expect a return to normal operations this year.
Langer praised the support from the state and federal government for the cinemas, which – unlike other cultural workers – came through the crisis quite well. Without the help, the Licher would not be able to make ends meet. From May to November 2020 they were only able to allocate 50 seats. And still had over 1000 visitors a month.
For Langer this is the first proof of the special loyalty of the “Traumstern” audience, the purchase of hundreds of tickets for ten is a second. “That was unbelievable.” Of course, the cinema prices also helped to survive the crisis.
The shutdown has now lasted four months, as some have discovered Netflix and Co. US studios have announced that they will exploit productions in cinemas and on the Internet at the same time, or at least shorten the terms of protection. Has the pandemic also cost the industry customers in the long term?
“It could be,” says Langer, who nevertheless shows himself: “If you watch a lot of films, you also go to the cinema.” Especially since the Internet by no means only offers quality, as the miserable new edition of “Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo” shows. Moreover, only cinema offers a shared experience. Including an exchange if – as with the “Systemsprenger” strip – one was forced to “go through such things”. At home some would run to the fridge.
Since the cinema has often been declared dead, Edith Weber, operator of Grünberger Lichtspiele, is cautiously optimistic. The very young have been lost to the Internet anyway. With the others, she hopes that they will “finally want to come out again” after the shutdown. Weber doesn’t know the existential worries of many colleagues. She doesn’t have to pay rent and, she jokes: “My husband is getting a pension.” The 77-year-old estimates the losses in the previous year alone at 70 percent, but the state aid worked for her too.
“Nobody knows what he is about. The distributors hold back even mediocre comedies, ”she looks ahead with skepticism. But she wants to continue. At least until 2022, when your movie theater turns 70 – and is an occasion to remember the advertising slogan “Come on, let’s go to the cinema”.
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