When film critic Roger Ebert said a great film “should seem new every time you see it,” he never would have considered doing so on a 4-inch smartphone screen.
The greatest films were crafted with a cinema-house experience in mind, and given they’re unlikely to screen at Major Cineplex any time, we’re unable to really see them as created. Downloading “2001: A Space Odyssey” to watch on a handheld device or home theater just doesn’t compare.
As a college student who has begun to appreciate classic films, I’m limited to DVDs, Blu-rays or torrents. Gone are the days we could watch these films the way they were intended – in a theater.
So when a friend told me about the Friese-Greene Club, a private theater hidden down Bangkok’s Soi Sukhumvit 22, I had to go check it out.
Founded by British director Paul Spurrier as a place for passionate film-lovers, the club serves as a private venue where they can watch classic favorites as well as cult films with a proper drink in hand – a nostalgic throwback to the great days of cinema. By turning a tailor’s workshop into his own private movie house, Spurrier has created a hub where film buffs discuss and share their appreciation of the movies they admire. It may be private and a little hard to find, but anyone is welcome to join for most events.
Most notably, the films are free to watch. The drinks aren’t but are an optional expense. They also serve the space’s social mission: to spark discussion and exchange.
So, longing to get the theater experience for films older than myself, I rang the doorbell outside the club’s hidden entrance on a recent Thursday evening.
After waiting some time in the dark and narrow soi, the wooden doors slowly opened and a woman led us in. Stepping inside the three-story building, visitors are immediately greeted by movie memorabilia: posters and set photos complete with autographs from famous directors hang from the walls. Old cameras and film books fill a shelf on the left for the visitors to page through; and even a TARDIS of Doctor Who fame sits in a corner of the room. A cluster of guests sat making small talk as they wait for the night’s feature – Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” – to be shown.
A TARDIS because why not?
The woman who led us in was Kanokjunt Puthanonnok, who as Spurrier’s mother-in-law, works the bar and manages the club when he’s out of town. (He was filming in Udon thani that night.)
Were the autographs real, I asked, pointing at a black-and-white photo of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones with Steven Spielberg on a set, and the director’s autograph scribbled across the photograph.
“All of those autographs are real,” Kanokjunt said. “He knows people in the movie industry.”
Myself enjoying the first San Miguel Light
Ordering a glass of San Miguel Light, we headed up the spiral staircase leading up to the second floor. The floor, which has a couch and a large-screen TV, resembles that of a cozy, ordinary living room.
On the third-floor is the main attraction, a nine-seat private screening room. A projector is positioned behind the seats, simulating a movie theater. By booking seats ahead of time, people can sit here and watch as they travel back in time to watch these films as if they are premiering for the first time. People who don’t book need not worry, as a large TV screen hangs on both the ground and middle floor for people to join in and watch as well.
Sitting in the middle row on the quintessential red, fuzzie chair with beers in hand, we enjoyed settled in for “Annie Hall.” Despite a few technical difficulties, seeing Woody Allen’s masterpiece in the theater made it feel new again as I fell in love with Diane Keaton’s titular character and laughed at the jokes as I have time and again.
The moment of viewing arrives
After the movie ended, I went down to the bar and wondered how the club, now a couple years old, gained a following despite its location and its lack of promotional advertisements.
“In the beginning, he would tell his friends through Facebook. His friends would tell their friends and the club spread through word-of-mouth,” Kanokjunt says as I sipped my beer the second.
The club is a friendly place, considering that after thanking Kanokjunt and walking out the door just before 11pm, we realized we hadn’t paid for the drinks.
With the club closing at 11 pm, I thanked the woman and made my way out with my friend. As we came out of the subsoi, we rushed back to the club, realizing we had not paid for the drinks.
“Sometimes our visitors would forget and they would come back to pay the next day,” she said with a laugh as I paid. “I take note for people who forget to pay as well.”
The homely set-up of the club, the friendliness of people and a solid monthly lineup is enough reason to check it out. Whether it’s to see that one film you know would be better seen in the club’s mini-theater, or to find a new hangout spot to chat with other film buffs, the Friese-Greene Club is worth the trip.
Check out the regularly updated schedule online.
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