“No volunteers, no cinema.” In Guémené-sur-Scorff, this motto is well known to all. For a century, at 13 rue Saint-Roch, it is they who make the heart of the Cinema beat. While they could be counted on one hand in the early days of the adventure, today there are forty of them keeping the machine running. Only one employee works 24 hours a week for technical support. But seven days a week, twice a day, it is the volunteers who tear the tickets, clean the hall, and start the films.
“Like one big family”
In the projection booth, Josette is one of the fifteen pairs of hands responsible for the magic of the screen. A spectator for years, she joined the team in 2008 after visiting the projection room. 18 years later, in this cozy atmosphere, she works almost mechanically: a click on the computer, a notch in the notebook. “It’s faster since everything went digital.” Witnessing the technological transition, she remembers when vigilance was a matter of safety: “Before, if we didn’t watch the reel, it could catch fire. Now, we have less to worry about.” Once the film is started, this patient family member waits five minutes. If the image and sound hold up, she leaves and makes way for the next person. “It’s like one big family. Actually, my daughter sometimes helps as an usher.”
During the centenary festival, Françoise experienced cinema from a different angle. A former cinema doctoral student, retired and a volunteer since 2012, she faithfully attends each screening. That day, it was a dive into the 30s: a delight for this enthusiast for whom “discovering new films is worth its weight in gold.”
Her commitment goes beyond just welcoming guests: president of the association for four years and member of the centenary film selection committee, she published a historical brochure about the establishment. “In my daily life, I have this and that going on,” she jokes. Between screenings, she still promotes the cinema within her Melrand club. This loyalty to the position is the hallmark of Guémené. A “bunch of members have been here for 20 or 30 years,” but the honor goes to François Le Cunff, appointed in 2024: 68 years of service and a medal of knight of cinematic merit.
Active recruitment
Laurent Hervé, the current president, acknowledges the importance of volunteers: “Without volunteers, we couldn’t keep our prices so low. And most importantly, the cinema couldn’t continue to exist.” The associative aspect is also a key factor in their success. “Our members are local figures. François Le Cunff, of course, and also the former president, Brother Le Gall, who renovated the establishment with his personal fortune. The regulars know us well.” Françoise confirms: “The machine is well oiled.”
But with forty people on deck, the paradox of success arises: “We actually see each other very little outside of meetings,” explains the retiree. The question of succession remains: “Will there be enough young people to continue?”
