Going to the pictures

For more than 20 years, Mt Vic Flicks (at Mt Victoria, a five minute train ride from Blackheath), has been providing a much appreciated and well supported cinematic experience.
They show new releases, foreign language films (with subtitles rather than dubbing, thank goodness), 'art house' and vintage films in this small, but well-equipped hall. As that rare beast, an independent cinema, they often have to struggle to get screening rights, but struggle they do - often with success, sometimes not.
They try to think of everything - scheduling screening times so you can watch the closing credits and not miss the train home, serving coffee in real cups (and choc-tops and popcorn), old-fashioned style pre-show cinema ads, the occasional double feature, they run fund-raiser and special occasion screenings... and Ron and/or Diane are always ready for a chat with their legions of fans, before nipping up to the projection box to run the film (Ron) or to the snack bar to serve snacks (Diane). Lovely people - and they do it all for the love of it!
They have a 'sister-cinema' relationship with the Ritz in Thirsk (Yorkshire, U.K.), also a small independent operation.

This is the beginning of the ticket queue for the afternoon screening of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" - a beautiful film - made me want to go back to India.