Interview with José Pinar

• Due to the Pandemic Covid – 19, many places of entertainment had to close, which brought consequences. In what aspects Cines Groucho has been affected? What safety measurements are you going to take when you re-open? 

The movie theater closed on the 14th of March and we are still closed, however we are planning are re-aperture by July 31st. We have had many reopening dates, like June 26th, but the circumstances have not allowed it. Also, we are considering the safety measurements we will take, because the legislature allows a 75% capacity in places, nevertheless it opposes the distance measurement. We believe that we still need to wait to see what happens because there’s yet three weeks left. I imagine the surgical masks will be obligatory and the use of screens will be allowed. In terms of cleaning, the two cinemas, one of 93 seats and the other of 95, will be constantly cleaned. Additionally, some hydroalcoholic gel will be found on the entrance. Also, we do have to consider that it is summer, the worst time for movie theaters because there’s less audience. Additionally, because of the pandemic, we find ourselves in complicated times. 

• Cines Groucho offers concerts with the collaboration of “Huesos de Portobello”, What does this consist of? 

Despite of the small space, Cines Groucho has a lot of advantages. Inside, we have a space with a small stage dedicated to concerts. “Huesos de Portobello” is a company of friends that organizes these events in other places and together we’ve had 4 or 5 editions of these concerts called “cajas de música” [music boxes]. Usually, they are done in autumn and there could be from 4 up to 12 concerts, depending on the program. The style of music is acoustic.

• Additionally, you used to do weekly music cycles, are you going to retake this activity? Are you planning on doing something similar? 

Those activities are for specific times. The premieres of the day are combined with another activity. An example is the Day of Europe, when we do a small celebration. Also, in August, we will have a festival called “El Picnic”, in which the two cinemas of Cines Groucho will be used, plus one of an institution. Throughout the year, we do have several activities, however the initial program is the most important because it is formed by 70 premieres in the span of 12 months and 4 daily sessions. On the other hand, we support the “Movimiento Por la Paz”, where we screen in autumn some cinematographic pieces of an ONG, in order to outstand the investigative work on a certain area. 

• What audience does Cines Groucho receive? Are there any activities in order to attract younger audience? 

Young people never come around here, since nowadays they prefer Hollywood films. The doors are open to anyone that is interested, but most of the audience is formed by people around their forties and more. Sometimes young people come, but it is only for certain cases. Usually, the audience are film enthusiasts for a really long time and they also like the movies we screen. Cines Groucho is loyal to a product for adult people, like art – house films, since this was more popular back in those days. 

• As a result of the pandemic, do you feel people will be less motivated to go to the cinema? 

In general, yes, there is fear. Not the case of film enthusiasts. People have great desire to go back and watch films like before. I have visited places that have already opened their cinemas and I have seen audience; they are eager to enter movie theaters. We call them “unconditional”, those people that think of the cinema as something sacred. The audience is hoping to watch movies live and in the big screen.  

• Is there any movie that you would recommend when the program is out?

Any of them. Any movie that we screen is worth watching. Right now, we are still in process of picking the movies, so I cannot specify, but all of them are great. The films that we offer are culturally rich, new points of view and directors, and, different films styles and stories. Everything we show has a great variety. We seek more than just screening films. 

•  Which has been the most popular film screened? 

The film Parasites. In my 16 years of experience, this film has been successful. It even doubled the number of spectators than the last popular film, which was The Great Beauty by Paolo Sorrentino. This winter, it has raised to the top and it is the only film that has been 20 weeks in a row on the cinema program. 

• As Cine Groucho’s manager, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced? 

Surviving. The movie theater is changing daily, weekly, and annually since it has a lot of competition and because young people are not so interested in this type of program. The cinema does not only compete with other cinemas, but also with other places that offer entertainment and leisure activities. There are public and private programming in the city, so it is a tough challenge to survive. I believe doing this and being open to the public is something miraculous.

• Is there a genre or film director who, personally, you appreciate more? 

I have always been into modern films. That is what I look to offer, a fresh movie style. There are many powerful directors and others that are well known in the film’s history. Besides, year after year there is someone new in the festivals. The genre of films I specialize in, has a tremendous number of genres and directors, which makes it hard to choose one that is good, because most of them are.

• In terms of cinematography, are there any aspects that Cantabria should improve in order to promote more the films culture? 

This is something related to the Spanish market, not only Santander or Cantabria. I believe that the institution and the media should make a big effort to defend the cultural product and not just the solid entertainment. There should be a big collective effort to appreciate even more the cultural content and the ones that have more enrichment. It is also a duty of every individual to highlight movies that make us culturally wiser and less of commercial ones. Together with the media, the institution, universities, educational entities, cultural management, we could take a quality leap, so there could be a great advance on improving the artistic program and strengthen the enriched, cultural proposals. It is something we all must work on.