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Roll credits: Paris cine temple to close Roll credits: Paris cine temple to close
(34 minutes later)
When the credits roll and the audience rises from the plush velvet seats at La Pagode cinema in Paris on Tuesday evening, it will be the end; of the film and, it is feared, for a building that has become a focal point for art-house cinephiles.When the credits roll and the audience rises from the plush velvet seats at La Pagode cinema in Paris on Tuesday evening, it will be the end; of the film and, it is feared, for a building that has become a focal point for art-house cinephiles.
The listed building, modelled on an oriental pagoda complete with Japanese tea garden and hidden away in the French capital’s 7th arrondissement, is to close after a long-running dispute between its owner and its tenant.The listed building, modelled on an oriental pagoda complete with Japanese tea garden and hidden away in the French capital’s 7th arrondissement, is to close after a long-running dispute between its owner and its tenant.
“It is with great regret that we announce our departure from La Pagode,” the Etoile group, a small independent cinema chain that runs La Pagode said on its Facebook page. “For three years we have battled legally against the owner who wants to take back the cinema … this long procedure has forced us to use La Pagode in very difficult conditions and stopped us from carrying out any renovations. “It is with great regret that we announce our departure from La Pagode,” the Etoile group, a small independent cinema chain that runs La Pagode, said on its Facebook page. “For three years we have battled legally against the owner who wants to take back the cinema … this long procedure has forced us to use La Pagode in very difficult conditions and stopped us from carrying out any renovations.
“In short, we are being evicted, and are obliged to leave the place.”“In short, we are being evicted, and are obliged to leave the place.”
Elisabeth Dauchy, who bought La Pagode in 1986 and spent €150,000 updating the building 15 years ago, has accused Etoile of not paying any rent for the last three years. A French tribunal found in her favour last year, a decision upheld on appeal at the end of October.Elisabeth Dauchy, who bought La Pagode in 1986 and spent €150,000 updating the building 15 years ago, has accused Etoile of not paying any rent for the last three years. A French tribunal found in her favour last year, a decision upheld on appeal at the end of October.
“I’m not the mean capitalist who is throwing them out. I’ve put money into La Pagode since I bought it in 1986. The rent has been the same since 1993 and isn’t index-linked. It’s the same rent as for a small studio in the 7th arrondissements,” she told Le Figaro. “The tenant is a squatter who hasn’t paid a thing for three years.” “I’m not the mean capitalist who is throwing them out. I’ve put money into La Pagode since I bought it in 1986. The rent has been the same since 1993 and isn’t index-linked. It’s the same rent as for a small studio in the 7th arrondissement,” she told Le Figaro. “The tenant is a squatter who hasn’t paid a thing for three years.”
Dauchy has said the building will remain a cinema, but needs restoring.Dauchy has said the building will remain a cinema, but needs restoring.
The apparent end of the cinema mirrors the turbulence at the beginning of La Pagode, which started as a ballroom and function room. The ornate replica of a Japanese pagoda was commissioned in 1895 by François-Émile Morin as a wedding gift to his wife.The apparent end of the cinema mirrors the turbulence at the beginning of La Pagode, which started as a ballroom and function room. The ornate replica of a Japanese pagoda was commissioned in 1895 by François-Émile Morin as a wedding gift to his wife.
Morin, , the owner of the department store Le Bon Marché, spared no expense and had some of the building’s most lavish parts, including delicately sculpted wooden beams and panels, were brought from Japan. Morin, , the owner of the department store Le Bon Marché, spared no expense and even had some of the building’s most lavish parts, including delicately sculpted wooden beams and panels, brought over from Japan.
Despite the grand gesture, the marriage did not last. Before the building was even finished, his wife had fallen madly in love with his best friend. Despite the grand gesture, the marriage did not last. Before the building was even finished, his wife had fallen in love with his best friend.
On completion, La Pagode was used for high-class Parisian soirées and receptions but was closed in 1927. Four years later it was transformed into a cinema and immediately forged a reputation for screening avant garde films. Jean Cocteau held the premiere of his last film, Testament d’Orphée, at the cinema in 1960.On completion, La Pagode was used for high-class Parisian soirées and receptions but was closed in 1927. Four years later it was transformed into a cinema and immediately forged a reputation for screening avant garde films. Jean Cocteau held the premiere of his last film, Testament d’Orphée, at the cinema in 1960.
In the 1960s it remained a hub of high cinematic art, promoting the classics of the New Wave generation including François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and Eric Rohmer. During the 1960s it remained a hub of high cinematic art, promoting the classics of the New Wave generation including François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and Eric Rohmer.
Despite housing only two relatively small cinemas, it has attracted more than 100,000 film-goers a year in recent times, and hosted movie masterclasses, festivals and evenings with visiting directors in the original Salle Japonaise, with red plush seats and oriental snake light fittings.Despite housing only two relatively small cinemas, it has attracted more than 100,000 film-goers a year in recent times, and hosted movie masterclasses, festivals and evenings with visiting directors in the original Salle Japonaise, with red plush seats and oriental snake light fittings.
David Henochsberg, 36, head of Etoile cinema and son of Jean Henochsberg, who reportedly discovered the film-makers Emir Kusturica and Pedro Almodóvar, told the web magazine Film Français: “We don’t know what will happen to La Pagode, but all we can hope is that it remains a cinema.David Henochsberg, 36, head of Etoile cinema and son of Jean Henochsberg, who reportedly discovered the film-makers Emir Kusturica and Pedro Almodóvar, told the web magazine Film Français: “We don’t know what will happen to La Pagode, but all we can hope is that it remains a cinema.
“La Pagode is in a pitiful state. I could never carry out [restoration work] because all my planning applications were blocked.”“La Pagode is in a pitiful state. I could never carry out [restoration work] because all my planning applications were blocked.”
Jérôme Seydoux, co-president of Gaumont-Pathé, which rented and ran La Pagode until 2012 and has 16 cinemas in Paris, told Le Parisien newspaper he might consider buying the place.Jérôme Seydoux, co-president of Gaumont-Pathé, which rented and ran La Pagode until 2012 and has 16 cinemas in Paris, told Le Parisien newspaper he might consider buying the place.
“Today, we’ve nothing more to do with La Pagode, but it’s still a magnificent building and is symbolic in Paris. It’s a place I can envisage us helping out or even buying if the owner decides to sell,”he said.“Today, we’ve nothing more to do with La Pagode, but it’s still a magnificent building and is symbolic in Paris. It’s a place I can envisage us helping out or even buying if the owner decides to sell,”he said.
“But work will need to be carried out and above all we’d have to modernise the films on offer, because it hasn’t been competitive for a long time.”“But work will need to be carried out and above all we’d have to modernise the films on offer, because it hasn’t been competitive for a long time.”
The last screenings on Tuesday are Youth, by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel and Rachel Weisz, and Marguerite, a film by the French director Xavier Giannoli.The last screenings on Tuesday are Youth, by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel and Rachel Weisz, and Marguerite, a film by the French director Xavier Giannoli.
Whether the projectors will ever roll again at La Pagode or whether the curtain has come down on a part of French cultural history for good, nobody can say.Whether the projectors will ever roll again at La Pagode or whether the curtain has come down on a part of French cultural history for good, nobody can say.