Paris Is Going To Have A Floating Movie Theater

Among the many things that we miss from life before the coronavirus pandemic is the simple pleasure of going to see a movie. Netflix is great and all, but there is nothing quite as magical as walking into a movie theater and inhaling the familiar scent of buttery popcorn, which you will shortly be munching on as you enjoy the latest film on the big screen. Thankfully for residents of Paris, this beloved pastime might be making a comeback. Just recently, local cinema chain Mk2 collaborated with ice cream company Häagen-Dazs to create an experience called  “Cinéma sur l’Eau,” which translates to “cinema on the water.”

The collaborative idea is a celebration of two events. Firstly, it’s the beginning of Paris Plages, a yearly event organized by the city that involves the creation of temporary beaches along the Sieng and the Bassin de la Villette, all throughout the summer months. Secondly, the “Cinéma sur l’Eau” also marks the official reopening of movie theatres in the French capital, after being closed for many months due to the coronavirus. Parisian citizens can enter a raffle for free tickets to the event from July 7 until July 15.

Getty Images/Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision

The floating theater will be comprised of 38 electric boats, from which viewers will enjoy the movie. According to a recent press release from public relations company Spark Agency, each boat has a capacity of four to six people. Furthermore, social-distancing practices will be applied, assuring that those sitting together in boats are family or friends. Apart from seating on the boats, another 150 people will be able to enjoy the movie from deck chairs on the shore, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The two films which are set to play on the big screen are “A Corona Story,” a short movie which tells the story of the pandemic, and “Le Grand Bain,” a 2018 French comedy about several men who decide to start a synchronized swimming team.