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Swiss cinema starts English film nights

Rather than close the 60-year-old Cinema Leuzinger in Rapperswil-Jona, a charming town of 27,000 on the shores of Lake Zurich, new owner Kinoevent reopens its doors to the first event cinema screening, in English.

Published: 27 January 2013 23:23 CET

Swiss cinema starts English film nights

Company Name: Kinoevent GmbH, Rapperswil

Interviewee: Christian Meier

What’s the story behind Kinoevent? Willy Leuzinger, one of the pioneers of Swiss film and cinema, started things up here in Rapperswil more than a century ago. His granddaughter Marianne Hegi ran the two local cinemas over the last 30 years. With high investments to be made for digitalisation and no successors to take over she was forced to close the cinemas in early 2011.

I grew up in Rapperswil, without siblings nor television so I often went to the cinema. When I heard that the cinemas were going to be closed, I decided to help Mrs Hegi and to save film culture in our beautiful town. I bought the cinema business, remodelled and digitalised and learned how to run two cinemas alongside my day job. It was and still is an adventure for me and my family – my wife, three teenagers and the dog (he loves the popcorn).

Why start an English film night? I love it when chilled out people meet similar-minded people and have a chance to relax and chat to each other. In Switzerland, people usually just say hello and that’s about it! But imagine leaving the cinema with new friends? It is such a great opportunity and it happens naturally when people talk the same language and experience something unusual together.

After observing many English speaking couples at a film night, who were standing all alone in the middle of a Swiss-German speaking crowd, we created the idea of organising an English film night for native speakers.

Do you have English speaking staff? That used to be a problem. We didn't have any native English-speaking crew but recently Jay from Australia joined our team, just in time for our first event on Tuesday 11th December at 7.30pm.

Where can I get information on film listings?
Check out our page on English Forum Switzerland for current listings and the latest information on upcoming films and events.

Contact: Kinobar Leuzinger, Obere Bahnhofstrasse 46, CH-8640 Rapperswil.
Reservations: +41(0)55 210 55 01 or email [email protected]

Cinema in France

Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs.

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm.

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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