The lights came back on Tuesday night at the Cinema 3 Casino in the heart of downtown Gardanne. Spectators were reunited with this iconic cultural venue during a highly anticipated reopening evening. From the beginning of the evening, regulars crowded in front of the cinema doors, happy to reconnect with their habits and with a certain idea of local cinema.
For this reopening, in the main room, the audience discovered the broadcast of the opening ceremony of the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival and then, in the three halls, the film “The Electric Venus,” the new feature film by Pierre Salvadori. The director tells the story of a grieving painter who thinks he is reconnecting with his missing wife through a fairground medium. An artwork on the border between dream and reality, welcomed as a true romantic fable. This melancholic and luminous film is carried by an almost magical atmosphere where wonder invites itself into everyday life.
Enthusiastic Spectators
In the cinema, discussions were lively before and after the screening. Helene, a former social worker, said: “It really left a void in the city. Being here tonight is important because I really struggled with the closure!” Marie-Claude Bernard, a resident of the city center who came with friends, added: “The cinema is not just about watching a film. We meet, we exchange, we share something together.”
Similarly, Marine, who came with her 12-year-old nephew, expressed emotion: “I love cinema, but during the closure, I missed out because elsewhere, it’s too expensive!” Alain added: “I have been coming here for a long time. When the theaters close, we lose a vibrant place. Here, we know people, we chat after the screenings, it’s not impersonal like in the big complexes.”
Throughout the evening, many mentioned the importance of 3 Casino in Gardanne’s cultural life. “For a city like Gardanne, keeping a cinema in the city center is essential,” said Arnaud Mazille, deputy in charge of culture. “This place complements the festive program led by the city but also acts as a driving force for our downtown.”
Normal rate: €8.50. Reduced rate (over 60, unemployed, large family, student, disabled worker): €7. Children under 14: €4.50. Morning rate (unique price): €5. Subscription: card (6 tickets) €36 + €4 for activation.
