Cinema

This must be Walhalla for movie addicts like me. Founded in the thirties last century, the Royal Movie Archive started to build one of the most important quality movie collections in the world. The good thing for us? They are more than happy to show’n'share their treasure with us, via recently renovated Cinematek.

With classics, rare cult movies, experimental cinema, directors/actors or genres in the spotlight they provide us a nice mix of very old to more recent highlights of movie history.

Subtitles often are in Dutch/French, so you may be limited to English spoken movies. Don’t worry, we don’t ‘dub’ those in our languages.

Don’t tell the cute guy I used to meet in the cafe next door but I’m old enough to remember the time when we used to have a cinema in each neighbourhood of the city. Unfortunately, year after year and decade after decade they all disappeared, and now we’re ‘lucky’ to have those big cinema complexes…

But some have survived here and there, nearly back from Hell… we bless the Styx to exist [the cinema is situated rue de l'Arbre Bénit, "Bénit" means "bless" in french].

It’s a little street in Ixelles, and the cinema is in a little house, offering an Art & Essay cinema programme. You’ll surely enjoy the place and the crowd around it: staff and clients are just passionate about the 7th Art. You’ll surely love to spend some rainy day over there!

Oh a little detail: this cinema has been open for more than 40 years now and it’s the only one in Brussels trying to stay open without any subsidies.

When you want to see a good film head to cinema Vendôme. This beautiful venue marks the beginning of Brussels’ African Hub, Matongé (check the Matongé article)

The metro Naamsepoort or porte de Namur is just around the corner and so is the UGC, the cinema where you can see crap from Hollywood. But Vendôme guaranties an interesting cinema outing. They show various European, Asian and African films.

The installation is up to date and the sound is excellent.

The cinema doesn’t host a large crowd but mostly a film respecting and knowledgeable audience. During the year the Vendôme cinema offers various film festival. Like an African film festival, a short film festival, a Chinese film festival and other specific screenings. The ticket booth at the front of the building makes you think of the alternative cinema’s of the 40′s or 60′s. Great viewing and a great experience.

I normally do not like big movie theatres, those with 20 screens, the latest Hollywood movies and impolite staff; and all this for an overpriced ticket. They just lost the atmosphere of my childhood, when I knew the cinema owner, and I felt the theatre was part of my house.

Here in Brussels we are fortunate to find a few nice theatres. The one I love the most is the Cinema Museum / Cinematek.

This cinema features some very old movies from great directors (many Italian ones to be honest..). One of the highlights are the weekly mute film sessions, when the movie is accompanied by a live piano…it’s a treat!

On the website (only French/Dutch) you can also find latest programs for other movie theatres like Flagey and its movie festivals throughout the year.

A cinema theater that offers independent productions is Cinema Nova. It brings an alternative, artistic and limit surpassing cinema experience.

Via plastic transparent curtains you enter into a brick wall hall way with stairs going to the cinema’s bar. This bar stays true to cinema Nova’s alternative side by offering not too common beverages at cheap prices. I recommend tasting their pear juice.

Sometimes, depends on the people working and the activities scheduled, you can also have dinner in a tranquil family like camping setting. Actually being there reminds you of being at an indoor camping site with various people hanging around in couches, having discussions at tables or performers singing or playing music.

Even if you don’t see a movie there it is worth your while to check out this laid back environment. It has something to do with the building and the reputation cinema Nova upholds.

Every month there is a new theme that is being investigated. They screen contemporary as well as historic films. Nova also organizes various festivals around particular subjects. The films are shown round eight and they also offer midnight screenings. On Thursday you can view short films sent in by Cinema Nova’s film creating public.

To sum it up this place is one of the most worthwhile things to see when you are in the center. A true pioneer in less mainstream entertainment.