292: The Little Cinema in Gloucester

At The Flicks loves cinema.  We are not just talking films here, our passion extends to the buildings (cathedrals to us), they are screened in. Last year we explored that passion in detail when contributors and friends of At The Flicks told their stories of the cinemas they remember with fondness.  If you haven’t heard those episodes, please go back and check them out, you will not be disappointed. So, you can imagine our pleasure when friend of the pod, writer and director Sam Pope from Imaginary Man Productions, shared his latest short film with us.  Called The Little Cinema In Gloucester, it’s a documentary celebrating the independent cinema The Sherborne based in Gloucester in the UK.  A relatively recent cinema which was created by Mark Cunningham as a local alternative to the multiplexes.  While it has been a tremendous boon to the community, Mark has encountered problems along the way, namely COVID and the closure of all cinemas at that time.  Sam’s film examines the recover from that dire period and in particular focuses on the Summer of 2023 – when two films ruled the box office – Barbie and Oppenheimer.  That pivotal moment is keenly captured here, along with interviews with Mark and some of his staff. Mark’s love of film stock over digital is something we at At The Flicks wholeheartedly support, even if it’s not practical these days. The other aspect of The Little Cinema In Gloucester that touched our heart was the nostalgic set up of the box office and the concession stand.  It sounds almost like an aside, but getting your tea or coffee (reasonably priced) in a mug is such a rare treat these days! At present, this short film is on the festival circuit.  We would recommend you to scan the details of your local film festivals and if The Little Cinema In Gloucester is playing, then it is well worth the effort to view – you will not be disappointed. One final comment.  It is such a wonderful documentary that we encouraged one of the At The Flicks team to prepare a review for you, our listeners.  That review is the subject of our next show.  So if you need further encouragement to track this film down, wait until you hear what Declan has to say. That show will be coming very shortly from At The Flicks.  Bye for now.