CINEMAS

Today I will tell you about cinemas here in Córdoba, a very interesting thing for everyone knowing that it's very strange finding someone who doesn't like films of any kind. In addition, watching films in their original version is a good way to practice languages, at least, for improving your listening skill and also, learning the culture surrounding the language that you are studying. Going to the cinema is even a way to acculturate yourself since every country has its own way of doing it. For example, in U. S. A, you can find hot dogs, burgers or ice cream stands at big cinemas, something very different from Spain, except some more international or touristic areas like Málaga coast, where cinemas have the same number of Spanish and English films, and you can find these products too.

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Well, in the past, there were a lot of cinemas in Córdoba: Alkázar, Reyes Católicos, Arcángel, Zoco, etc... However, things changed when El Tablero cinema was opened. Little by little, all the other ones had to close because this last one is a big cinema located in a leisure zone next to some restaurants. It also has bigger and more comfortable rooms and a great variety of films. Firstly, the Reyes Católicos Cinema was closed in the city centre, I think I have gone 4 or 5 times in my life, and you can still see its billboard wall so you can guess it was a cinema, a very luxury one. Afterwards, the Zoco cinema couldn't maintain, in spite of being located inside of a shopping centre next to a new residential area in which many well-off families live. Next, two years ago, the Alkázar cinema located in the city centre, that always had many people, disappeared due to a recession and the opening of a new cinema like El Tablero.

Nowadays, there are only three cinemas in Córdoba: El Tablero, El Guadalquivir and El Arcángel. The first two cinemas are quite big, with sloping rooms and comfortable seats, and they are located; the first one in a leisure area and the second one in a shopping area (Mediamarkt, Sprinter, etc... ). The third one is not as good as the other ones but it can maintain because it's located in a shopping centre which is frequently visited and, of course, there are many people living in a neighbourhood nearby who prefer to stay there and don't waste a lot of money going to the previous ones.

In the Arcángel cinema, there are mainly commercial films but, sometimes, they offer some minor films which don't last much time on screens so at least we have the opportunity to see something different. There is also a sweet-shop here but I don't know if they sell popcorn, I think they do. The bad thing about this cinema is that its rooms are small and a little bit shabby, and tickets are sold for the same price as the other cinemas, which doesn't make any sense so I never come here...

We have to mention that you can find the Andalusian Film Library, fortunately, in the historic quarter of Córdoba. Here, you can see films in their original version and it has a great variety from animated ones to the strangest film from Vietnam. It consists on having a monthly cyclic system and films are related to an specific cycle, that's why there are so many different ones. Maybe you can find a cartoons cycle, a Merilyn Monroe one and Polish or Italian cinema in the same month. It only costs 0, 90 euros so we can say it's almost for free, needing just a "token price". In addition, we can buy a 10-tickets offer, that never expires and we can share with anyone else so it is even cheaper. As you can see, it's a wonderful place that not many people know about so it should be a "must" for foreigners who can see films in their own native language. As I mentioned before, films can be in English, Italian, Polish, Arabic, Wolof including some dialects and always subtitled in Spanish.

Regarding Spanish customs, there are very simple, at least in Córdoba: you are allowed to eat while watching a film, but people normally bring sweets, popcorn or some snacks, neither burgers nor hotdogs; also, try to make sure you open the bags before starting the films not to bother people; you have to keep silence and turn off your mobiles. Obviously, these are rules of courtesy, but we know there are always impolite people.

To sum up, I hope you go to the cinema and enjoy.

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