After celebrating the start of summer with the Fête de la Musique, here’s how to keep the cultural momentum going. The sun seems to be in particularly good form of late. It’s all very well to take advantage of the fine weather, but be careful not to get burned! We often forget that the 7th art can be our best ally in this kind of situation. And just in time, we’ve got a number of events lined up over the next few days to offer you – if not a swim – a bath in culture.
Summer in cinemascope at the Institut Lumière (until August 26) – Free!
Lyon is the cradle of cinema , and the Institut Lumière celebrates this distinction throughout the year, and particularly in summer, with these Cinéma en plein air sessions. A whole host of masterpieces will be shown throughout the summer, including Alabama Monroe, Mary at Any Price (hilarious), Little Miss Sunshine and Moulin Rouge, to name but a few. Please note that international films will be shown in Original Version (with French subtitles). For full details, visit the Institut Lumière website. All screenings are free of charge, and a refreshment bar will be available to quench your thirst!
Cinéma du Vieux Lyon (until July 23) – Free!
This week, the Palais Saint-Jean hosts the 1st edition of the European open-air festival. Entirely free of charge, come and celebrate cinema as it should be, with screenings of some of Europe’s biggest names. The festival will feature Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire on Monday, July 21, Roberto Benigni’s La Vie est Belle on Tuesday, July 22, and Pedro Almodóvar’s Tout sur ma Mère. (All screenings will be in VO with French subtitles.) Buvette and tutti quanti for a really great time.
Enjoy cinema at the best price
Not available on these dates? Or just too impatient? Are you running out of money after blowing it on upcoming festivals? Don’t panic: you don’t have to sell a kidney to go to the movies. Take advantage of a 20% discount on tickets at CGR and Pathé cinemas in and around Lyon!
Festival Vieux-Lyon en humanité (until July 13)
A not-to-be-missed event for all cinephiles: the Festival Vieux-Lyon en humanité will soon be taking over the courtyard of the Palais Saint-Jean, in the 5th arrondissement, for a series of never-before-seen screenings. The first of these will be a well-known Lyonnais film: Bertrand Tavernier’s L’Horloger de Saint-Paul, starring the immense Philippe Noiret. This will be followed by several other screenings in July, including Roberto Benigni’s La vie est belle and Wim Wenders’Les ailes du désir. The Festival offers a host of other free activities not to be missed.