Your
Belmont
Memories
Spoons
"I had seen the film The Disaster Artist at the Belmont and enjoyed it. Typical of the majority of films I went to see at the Belmont the audience was small. So when the opportunity arose to see the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and there were only a limited number of screenings I felt I had to go and see it. I usually aimed to arrive 20 minutes after the official start time so as to avoid the adverts. This has rarely been a problem.
On this occasion I was a little bit earlier than this and was stunned to see people queuing up outside. "What is going on?", I am thinking. "Why are so many people interested in a film of limited appeal?" I get to the ticket desk and I am lucky to get one of the last remaining seats in the front row of the large Screen 1. I prefer to sit near the back so as not to strain my neck and go swivel-eyed trying to take in a large screen close up. I was invited to take some plastic cutlery on the counter. "What is this for I asked?". "It is part of the film." was the reply with an enigmatic smile.
Sure enough Screen 1 was packed out. The film starts and a little way in the people behind me shout "Spoons" and I am showered in plastic cutlery . This happened at key points during the film. Also the audience shouted out phrases at certain repeated phrases or camera shots. The audience clearly knew this obscure film very well. Never in my 50 years of cinema going have I encountered such an immersive experience. Well done to the Belmont.
The film, in case you want to look out for it, is "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau. A film that has to be seen in a cinema.
Bruce Taylor
Share Your Memory
Spoons
"I had seen the film The Disaster Artist at the Belmont and enjoyed it. Typical of the majority of films I went to see at the Belmont the audience was small. So when the opportunity arose to see the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and there were only a limited number of screenings I felt I had to go and see it. I usually aimed to arrive 20 minutes after the official start time so as to avoid the adverts. This has rarely been a problem.
On this occasion I was a little bit earlier than this and was stunned to see people queuing up outside. "What is going on?", I am thinking. "Why are so many people interested in a film of limited appeal?" I get to the ticket desk and I am lucky to get one of the last remaining seats in the front row of the large Screen 1. I prefer to sit near the back so as not to strain my neck and go swivel-eyed trying to take in a large screen close up. I was invited to take some plastic cutlery on the counter. "What is this for I asked?". "It is part of the film." was the reply with an enigmatic smile.
Sure enough Screen 1 was packed out. The film starts and a little way in the people behind me shout "Spoons" and I am showered in plastic cutlery . This happened at key points during the film. Also the audience shouted out phrases at certain repeated phrases or camera shots. The audience clearly knew this obscure film very well. Never in my 50 years of cinema going have I encountered such an immersive experience. Well done to the Belmont.
The film, in case you want to look out for it, is "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau. A film that has to be seen in a cinema.
Bruce Taylor
Koyaanisqatsi
“One of the best things about the Belmont was that folk could hire the cinema and screen a film to celebrate eg a birthday.
I’ve been lucky enough to havs been invited to some enjoyable events.
On one memorable occasion, I was the only invitee who turned up dressed as a character from the chosen film!
Then there was the time that I fell asleep during the turgid Koyaanisqatsi, chosen by an academic for their 40th birthday watch… zzzzzzzzzzzz”
Pauline Brown
Finding Vivian Maier
"I was studying Photography at Nescol and we had to research and write about a photography style that inspired us. I discovered Street Photography through this after I'd found a series of work by Vivian Maier and then, coincidentally, I found that they'd made a film about it AND it was only showing at The Belmont. It wasn't the first time I'd been there but it's my abiding memory of the cinema with its chilled vibe and comfortable uniqueness."
A Sinclair
October 6th 2022
"My strongest memory of the wonderful Belmont Cinema is the door closing on Oct 6th 2022... Something that should have NEVER been allowed to happen... Poor show from FILMHOUSE and Aberdeen City Council... Why should the North East of Scotland public miss out on what people in every other City in Scotland can enjoy...?"
Euan Alasdair - Clark
Me and You and Everyone We Know
"I miss the Belmont - I have so many memories. The first memory maybe doesn't sound like a positive one it's seeing Baise-Moi - it was me, a friend and a man in a mac (sorry if this was you). It was awful (hint in the title) but we still laugh about it.
My favourite film of all time Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know. A great example of a film that would probably not be shown at other chain Cinemas also saw The Future (containing the funniest quirky sex scene of all time) and Kajillionaire (bought DVD online Polish version strangely called Tani Cwani).
In 2017 I saw The Leisure Seeker with Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda. It took me back to another favourite film from my youth Klute in 1971. Same Actors and me 46 years on.
Last film I saw was Mrs Harris Goes To Paris on 4th October 2022 didn't like the film much but would have savoured it more if I'd known Belmont would be closing it's doors soon after. Ironically I picked up a new Membership Card that day. Thanks for the memories Belmont Cinema."
Angela Nicoll