The pros and cons of watching a 13 hour film at the cinema

To the delight of London cinephiles, Badlands Collective and A Nos Amours recently announced a rare screening of Jacques Rivette’s Out 1. This notorious 1971 feature comprising of ten, roughly 90 minute episodes charts the obscure, cloak-and-dagger activities of two rival theatre troupes. It is set to be screened across two days – Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November – at The Prince Charles Cinema in London, and frankly, I’m torn as to whether this kind of gigantic investment in the glory of cinema might turn out to be a big ol’ waste of time.

Pros of going

• To support the passionate endeavours of Badlands and A Nos Amours.
• Some say it is a masterpiece.
• Cosy, social things will be happening when the film is not playing. There will be a dinner on Saturday night.
• It’s not going to be screened again any time soon. Miss it. Miss Out (1).
• This has the potential to be one of the screening events of eternity.

Cons of going

• There goes the weekend.
• Haven’t heard of or read a case for Out 1’s masterpiece status that truly lands.
• Had a bad experience last time I tried to watch 13 hours of film at the cinema. Looking at you, Berlin Alexanderplatz.
• Sitting silently on a solitary seat in a dark room confronted by a flickering images that do not interest is a high-brow form of torture.
• It would be worse to go and be a hater than to not go and never know.

What are your thoughts on this screening and extended cinema experiences in general? Let us know @LWLies

Buy tickets to see Out 1 at princecharlescinema.com

Published 13 Nov 2015