On the occasion of the release of the Grand Bain on October 24th, the Sables-d'Olonne cinema organized an offbeat event. One of many so that at the time of the internet, "the cinema is a party."
It was sunny this Wednesday at Les Sables-d'Olonne. The swimsuits were even out. On the big beach and, more surprisingly, at the cinema ...
A free slot for spectators in jerseys
Tonight at 8:30 pm, Kevin, Regis and Jerome are already at the checkout. "We're coming for The Big Bath ". And since they are in jerseys and flip-flops, their place is offered to them. A little click-clac in front of the poster and they are already in the mood of the film. This French comedy by Gilles Lelouche where a bunch of prestigious actors (Guillaume Canet, Benoit Poelvoorde, Jean-Hughes Anglade, Philippe Katherine, Mathieu Amalric ...) creates a synchronized swimming team.
They are not alone. Eric went 20 km to be able to "laugh while the news is depressing" . Clémence, Charline and Marina claim that "ridicule does not kill" by readjusting their swimming cap. Benoit, Sara, Ianis, Yvan and Racha are in the same delirium ...
Spectators parachute
François Lesuisse has fun watching them all scroll. The director of the cinema Le Grand Palace loves this kind of event. On social networks, the idea has been buzzing for a week. Because in this independent and family cinema, "every event is made to have fun" .
Examples ? For the release of the Incredibles 2, spectators in superhero outfit parachuted above the cinema, before landing on the red carpet and attending the premiere. In the room, kids and adults had played the game dressing in Captain America, Superman or Harley Quinn. A shower of entertainment and gifts had sprinkled the evening. "There were 800 spectators in the five cinemas, it was the biggest preview of the film in France" .
Romane Bohringer "liked"
For the next release of The Big Ball , the cinema hall will be transformed into a large dance hall after the screening. For that of Asteria and Obelix, a magic potion evening is in preparation ... François Lesuisse does not hide it, it is flat. But he loves it, like a 39-year-old kid .
Each time, the spectators adhere, applaud, expect more and more the next madness. Distributors too. And for good reason: "at each preview that we organize, we are in the top 5 French in terms of affluence" . François Lesuisse never forgets to please "the world of cinema".
At the beginning of the month, he was at 5 o'clock in the morning on the big beach, with his "little rake", to draw in giant letters the name of the film The Blurred Love and make it appear to everyone at dawn. Romane Bohringer, the director who came to the premiere, loved the video and made it known on social media. "We knew it was going to touch her . "
In the cinema before school
But where is the secret? How does this small cinema of five rooms and six employees manage to organize "an important event practically every two weeks"? It is in what makes "Les Sables-d'Olonne" live that the recipe is hidden. The cinema involves companies, associations and all those who move the city. Win-win, sums up the Sands native, who was also world champion in wave skiing and sculptor.
Even today, François Lesuisse is sometimes surprised by the extent that certain events take. "For the 50 Nuances Plus Claires evening, we decided to open the box office at 8am. It was cold and I was very surprised to see these moms who were there with their children, before taking them to school. The tail was around the cinema. In 1 hour, the 800 seats were sold ... »
2nd most innovative cinema in France
Every year, the cinema records 250,000 admissions. He has doubled his turnover since François Lesuisse and his wife bought the family business six years ago. And yet, "we are competing with something incredible, it's the internet". Now watched from afar, the small local cinema has created its own scenario for success. Last year, the CNC (National Cinema Center) designated it as the second most innovative cinema in France.