Villefranche celebrates the 50th anniversary of its open-air cinema, located in the Saint-Elme citadel. For the occasion, this Friday, July 28, the municipality inaugurated an exhibition on the film shoots that have been organized there.
A screening of Gรฉrard Oury’s film, The Sucker, followed the opening.
The choice of the film is anything but trivial. Indeed, The Sucker was the subject of the first screening of this open-air cinema in 1967. A journey through time, accentuated by the presence of all the former projectionists.
Gรฉrard Oury’s daughter, Daniรจle Thompson, herself a director, was present for this new screening, 50 years later. Born in Monaco and having grown up in the region, she is touched to return to Villefranche-sur-Mer for the occasion. “I am in love with the Mediterranean, this town, and its surroundings. It is a beautiful gesture to honor my father here.” The event is all the more symbolic for her since the film has rarely been shown again on the big screen, being favored by television, and even smartphones.
The exhibition traces all the film shoots that have taken place in Villefranche. Each location and scene are presented, along with the iconic actors who have stepped onto the city’s soil. More than 150 shoots have been hosted, confirming the town’s appeal, and leaving many memories, visible until September 30, 2017.
