Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cube Microplex, Bristol

A small Bristol cinema operating as a not-for-profit co-operative

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Every week we invite our readers to tell us about where they go to watch films. This week it's the turn of David Biddle. Follow him on Twitter here.

Location
Lower Kingsdown, Bristol. It's just down a side street from Stokes Croft, which is both Bristol's cultural hub and the site of the anti-Tesco riot in April last year. It's an area with a strong sense of independence and it's culturally very active, with art galleries, gig venues and clubs all within a few minutes' walk.

The building
The Cube premises have a rich history, having been occupied at various times by a recycling depot, a girls' school and a centre for the hearing impaired. At some point it was home to an amateur dramatics group who hand-built the stage and seating of the auditorium. It hosts a single screen and has a red-velvet-seated capacity of 103.

The programme
In a word: eccentric. As you might expect they show the big art house and award-nominated films but they also show a wide and eclectic range of older works. The "20th Century Cube" series of nights is devoted to classic films of the last century and the "Hellfire Video Club" nights show unusual, psychedelic and cult films. The Cube also has a reputation for putting on gigs – these range from tribute and folk bands to cutting edge avant-garde and noise music. There are weekly daytime showings for parents with babies to attend.

The clientele
Varies wildly depending on the programme. Young trendy types, both young and mature professionals, pensioners, jobseekers, asylum seekers and local residents all make up an average crowd. Tickets tend to be very cheap so there's a good mix of people from different backgrounds. Surprisingly few students for a venue like this, but that's because there aren't many living in the area.

Further comments
The Cube operates as a not-for-profit co-operative. Nobody gets paid and there's a strong commitment to ethical and socially responsible ideals. Entry for those seeking asylum in the UK is free, staff make the cola themselves, the coffee is imported directly through the Feral Trade network, and every effort is made to keep prices low. They also run the Haiti Kids' Kino Project, a scheme which sends volunteers to Haiti to screen films for children who have suffered in earthquakes. Independence is important too; most of the building's maintenance is done in-house by volunteers and the cinema neither seeks nor accepts external funding. They provide a free internet server for local artists and community groups.

The Twitter view

@hairiermanager

Amazing. Like a smaller version of the Scala in London in its halcyon days. Great atmosphere. Highlight: Cremaster marathon!

@UncleFrankFilms

Eclectic (bafflingly so) programme; charmingly aged seating; and a nice bar. Love that they hand out blankets on cold nights.



@akajrp

I love The Cube – Chocolate stout, and the quirkiest ladies' loos ever

@thebioscopist

The Cube is like the microbrewery of cinemas – a microcineplex for the true cinephile.


Is there a cinema you love (or hate) that you think our readers should know about? If you're interested in reviewing a cinema, email adam.boult@guardian.co.uk with the subject line "Cine-files".


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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/apr/24/cine-files-cube-microplex-bristol

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