Alexander Malich - Open-Air Cinemas in Greece - A Film Fans Dream

In the summer, the majority of indoor cinemas close and the open-air cinemas
take over. Other cities occasionally dabble in open-air cinemas – temporary
ones are occasionally set up in London parks, for example – but in Greece
they are a well-established feature in the evening entertainment scene and a
must-try experience during any visit.

The set-up is usually very simple and apart from the technology, nothing
much has changed since the opening of the first open-air cinema, "The
Boboniera", in 1919 in Kifissia. They are usually in what resembles a walled
garden and often have enormous and beautiful bushes of fragrant jasmine and
bougainvillea growing along their boundaries. The screen is at one end and
is smaller than those that you find in most indoor cinemas, but it is always
more than sufficient for the comparatively small seating capacity. The
chairs are usually canvas or plastic chairs of the type that you might find
in someone's garden and have small tables dotted between them, on which you
can place whatever goodies you buy from the small bar usually positioned in
a corner somewhere.

The open-air cinemas re-run films that were released during the previous
winter, show re-runs of classic films and put on a few new releases.
Although the film may completely capture your attention, it is worth finding
a few moments to take a look at your surroundings from your seat. In Athens,
what you will see will vary greatly depending on which cinema you go to. For
example, if you go to the Thiseion cinema on the fantastic pedestrianised
Apostolou Pavlou Street, you will have the opportunity to take in a great
view of the Acropolis. In other cinemas, you may find yourself surrounded by
apartment blocks with their rows of balconies above your head, decorated
with colours reflected from the screen. It is quite a surreal experience to
watch a film in such close proximity to other people's homes and if you look
closely, you may even spot one of the residents enjoying the film along with
you, from a spot on their balcony.

Foreign films, i.e. non-Greek films, are always screened in the original
language with Greek subtitles, so you can see any English language film
without any problems. The film screening times are usually around 9pm and
11pm and the programme changes on Fridays. There is always an intermission
half way through the film. For a few days during the summer, when you attend
the early screening it may not be dark enough outside for you to be able to
properly see the action on the screen for the first couple of minutes – this
is bearable though with a bit of squinting. Admission fees are around 7
Euros. Enjoy!

-- 
Alexander Malich