Movie lovers rejoice — the Village East by Angelika has resumed their 35mm series. In 2018, the Village East by Angelika introduced the series where film-lovers could watch classic films on the big screen, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Wizard of Oz. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the East Village-based theater suspended the series, leaving film lovers craving that intimate experience again.
This Valentine’s Day, the theater resumed the series, kicking off with a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The film romanticizes New York City in the 1960s. Audrey Hepburn’s character, Holly Golightly, prances around the city with her unnamed cat, daydreaming about Tiffany’s, the high-end, Fifth avenue jewelry store. While the film is racist and outdated in many ways, it remains popular because of its stunning camera work. When digitized, some of that beauty gets lost. Watching a 35mm film version of a movie allows audiences to see the quirks of the roll of film like the changes in volume and the spots that appear on the screen. It is a more authentic way to display the films because that is how they were intended to be shown on film.
“There [are] a lot of classic films that people haven’t heard of, or never seen.,” said Kashawn Henry, a manager at the Village East He and the staff members hope to get people interested in film again. “It’s kind of giving people a window into what used to be, as opposed to everything being high def Ultra 4k,” Henry said.
The crowd on opening night ranged from young to old and almost every seat was filled. Barnard College fourth-year, Amelia Lowry, came with a friend to introduce her to the film. “I was just going to be at the library all night. So this seemed much better,” said Lowry. “It’s a cute idea for singles and for couples.”
On the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., the Village East will feature a different classic film. The series is set to continue indefinitely and run year-round as long as interest remains high. The theater itself features many quaint details — from the red, black and gold interior color scheme to the beautiful exterior of the building, the Village East’s environment perfectly suits film showings.
On Monday, March 14, the theater will continue the series with the 1941 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Wizard of Oz, Citizen Kane and Enter the Dragon are set to play in the coming months.
For those who enjoy musical classics, tune in on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for the Musical Monday series at Village East. The 70mm musicals may not have the same nostalgic feeling as the 35mm films, but still bring people together after months of spending time apart. Bye Bye Birdie, Cabaret and Mamma Mia are just a few lined up.
Attendees do not have to be film experts to enjoy either series. “It’s just a good night out,” said Henry. “It’s a really interesting way to try and get people back into movie theaters.”