The oldest Poland's cinema reopens in Lodz

"Stare Kino" cinema opened in Lodz (central Poland) in the place of the first Polish movie theatre "Gabinet Iluzji" established in 1899. The cinema aims to recreate the atmosphere of cinematic Lodz, a city with strong movie-making traditions.

Archiwum Fot. PAP/Grzegorz Michałowski / Łódź, 21.01.2016. Ponowne otwarcie pierwszego stałego kina w Polsce w "Starym Kinie Cinema Residence" przy ul. Piotrkowskiej 120 w Łodzi, 21 bm. Kino zostało założone pod koniec XIX wieku przez braci Krzemińskich i nazwane "Gabinetem Iluzji". W Starym Kinie mają być prezentowane stare, znane polskie obrazy, kroniki oraz produkcje dokumentalne, a filmy wyświetlane będą z projektora 35 mm. Po prawej stronie pan Szymon Wacławski z Kina Tatry, które wyposażyło obiekt w sprzęt do projekcji. Archiwum Fot. PAP/Grzegorz Michałowski

"In 1899 the Krzeminski brothers opened the first cinema in Poland at 120 Piotrkowska Street. That is why our cinema is called 'Stare Kino' (Old Cinema), that is why we created this place in which we appreciate films produced in Lodz", said co-owner of the cinema Radoslaw Trzeba.

This is an entirely non-commercial project, he stressed. The audience can watch films shown on old movie projectors using 35 mm film stocks. "Forget about 3D image, Dolby Surround system, comfortable chairs where you can put Coca Cola or popcorn. We are more interested in recreating the atmosphere of cinematic Lodz", said Trzeba.

A premiere screening featured three Polish Newsreels from the 70s. Regular screenings will begin from January 26 and will take place twice a week. "The Promised Land" (1975) will be the first feature film shown in "Stare Kino". Directed by Andrzej Wajda, the film tells the story of a cruel capitalist world of 19th century industrial Lodz. It will be followed by "Ashes and Diamonds”, directed also by Andrzej Wajda.

The cinema is a part of a "film" hotel located in a tenement at 120 Piotrkowska Street, offering 40 apartments whose interiors were inspired by famous films connected with Lodz such as "The Promised Land", "Vabank" or "Kingsajz". (PAP)

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