For nearly a century, cinemas have been a versatile meeting point for people of all ages. On a Friday night at your local cinema, you can find a group of friends enjoying the start to their weekend over popcorn and the latest big-name blockbuster, a sheepish pair on their very first date, or a solo film enthusiast viewing an indie film they have been anticipating for months.

In a way, cinemas are the epitome of community. It is quite beautiful to gather with strangers, sitting in silence, all enjoying the same movie. We laugh together, cry together, and gasp together. It is a unique sort of camaraderie that we seldom experience in any other setting.

With the rise of multiplex theaters in suburban hotspots, the sense of community that film brings is becoming overshadowed by the commercialization of a trip to the movies. After moving to Berlin and immersing myself in the local film scene, my perspective changed. I realized that the community is still alive, and local cinemas are thriving in diverse communities. Maybe cinema is bringing people together now more than ever.

Since when was going to the cinema a luxury?

With the rising popularity of online streaming platforms and the increasing cost of enjoying a night out at the movies, I have observed that cinema culture has been on the decline in suburban areas. Its appeal and popularity are melting into the cost of one large popcorn, a Slurpee, and a box of M&Ms, because that is what going to the movies is all about, right? Why spend 15 USD on a movie ticket when you can stream the latest blockbuster on HBO Max from the comfort of your couch?

It was a special occasion to go to the movies. Growing up in suburban America, my exposure to the cinema was only at ginormous multiplex theaters consisting of 20+ movie screens, an arcade, a restaurant, and a bar. It was like a shopping mall. The neon lights and masses of people were overwhelming.

Cinemas were rebranding as “luxury” left and right, advertising fancy reclining chairs as an excuse to raise ticket prices. The ones I grew up going to only showed big-name, blockbuster movies. My exposure to film was limited to films grossing billions of dollars. These multiplex cinemas took over, and local cinemas went bankrupt. Soon, the charm of local cinemas became a rare delicacy scattered across America, few and far between.

The experience of going to the movies felt more transactional and impersonal than communal and valuable.

The draw of “Kino culture”

My first time at a cinema in Berlin altered my perception of how film is viewed. The stark contrast between my former interpretation of movie theaters and what was in front of my eyes was shocking. Before you even approach the concession counter, you find rows of booths, small tables lit by candlelight, and benches filled with people laughing, talking, drinking a soda, and smoking.

Each cinema consisted of only 4 or 5 screens, and sometimes even fewer. In each cinema, there tends to be one large screen with almost 100 seats reserved for new releases, while the remaining have room for only 30 or 40 viewers. They were beautifully arranged, honoring historical design by including a thick red curtain tastefully draped over each screen. The layout of the cinemas is humble, structured for the purpose of spending time with your friends or yourself while being unplugged from reality for a short hour or two.

The German audience embraces a slower-paced film that welcomes ambiguity. Films shown tend to almost always leave the viewer with a question that needs to be answered or require them to self-reflect to answer it. Foreign-language films are celebrated, and viewers are given the option to view them with multiple subtitles and audio variations.

It is no surprise that cities rich in density tend to be rich in creative expression. Street blocks lined with apartments whose inhabitants bring a wide range of cultures and modes of expression reinforce the vibrant buzz and rich history of the modern European city.

More than just the movies

The key difference is that in Berlin, films are viewed as a cultural good, not just a commercial commodity. Local cinemas are federally subsidized to allow them to keep their ticket prices affordable and support independent filmmakers by showing films that may not yield blockbuster-level profits. In return, the program is curated with care, prioritizing showing high-quality films that tend to slip through the cracks of visibility in mainstream media.

Local cinemas in Berlin are usually operated under an independent cinema group. Even though they are under the same ownership, each venue is distinct, offering unique programming and cultural immersion, offering a unique movie-going experience. For avid moviegoers, an unlimited membership plan is offered (the monthly fee is equivalent to seeing 2/month), which encourages viewers to indulge in more diverse cinema and explore different tastes of media.

Cinemas host events such as pre-screenings, themed film series, and Q&As with filmmakers and actors that allow the public to indulge in conversation about the true meaning and purpose behind the film. With these events, viewers build loyalty to the cinema itself and not necessarily just the film they are seeing that night.

Cinemas are modest, appreciated, and most importantly valued. They function as a rich cultural hotspot that opens a dialogue of introspection between strangers. After indulging in the cinema culture in Berlin, I could not imagine the city without it.

So I encourage you, no matter where you are in the world, to go support a local cinema. Go see a film you never would have expected yourself to enjoy.

Go alone. Unplug and sit in the dark with strangers. It might teach you more about yourself and your city than you may expect.

It is worth it, I promise.