BY J. TREILLAUD
Are you tired of university work? Looking
for some entertainment without spending too much of your money? Going to the
movies may be your solution! Dublin is here to provide you with different kinds
of cinemas depending on your mood or where you live, be it near the university
or around the city centre.
For those of you living on campus or around
it, the most convenient place to go is the Santry Omniplex. This eleven-screen
complex shows box-office films and is only ten minutes’ walk away from DCU (in
the Omni Shopping Centre). Its scheduled programme has mainly American and
British films for the general public, which are always popular amongst
students.
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| DCU's DVD collection by B. Vysoky |
If you wish to go to the city centre to
watch a movie, the Savoy is easy to find (on O'Connell Street). This
seven-screen cinema has a programme similar to the Santry's, with identical
prices: €6.20 with your student card. But this is far from being the only
cinema in town there is a large number. The Screen, situated near Trinity
College, is a charming place to go and have some fun. Take a peek at their
special events schedule as this is a good way to see some of the classics. If
you love blockbusters and have time to go often, you should check out
Cineworld: they offer a monthly unlimited card at €19.99 which gives you the
opportunity to see as many films as you want in the month. Also situated in the
city centre, the bar 4 Dame Lane organizes free screenings every Thursday. It is
worth having a look at their programme if you fancy a beer and fish and chips
as well. But Dublin offers a wide variety of film genres and if you’re a film
addict or feel like discovering something different, try the Lighthouse in
Smithfield, which has just reopened, or the Irish Film Institute (IFI) in Temple Bar.
The is a diverse range of films shown at
the IFI: many Irish films are to be found here if you want to discover Irish
culture in a way that does not involve museums or books. The IFI does not focus
only on Irish cinema, however, but also shows an assortment of European and
international films. It offers both recent hits as well as retrospectives of
famous film-makers organised throughout the whole year. Homesick? Chances are
high that you can find a film from your country in the programme. If not, their
DVD shop is full of European and Asian films, including most of the classics.
If you want to improve your knowledge of Irish culture, you can have a look at
their collection. It includes classic films about history such as In the Name
of the Father or Michael Collins, and if you think books are too boring or
time-consuming, there is a wide selection of screen adaptations of classic
novels such as Joyce’s Ulysses or A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and
the must-see film version of Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments.
Though those DVDs can make good gifts or
souvenirs from Ireland, DVDs are quite expensive and not every student can
afford them. I advise you to take a look at the university library which has a
wide selection of films. The loan period is quite short so be sure to return
the DVD within the next two days, as the fines increase quickly. Another good
fact to know is the DCU Film Society which organises regular screenings (as
part of a society you can join it for €2 and have access to the showings for
free).
In Ireland the films are released on Friday
so the cinema programmes change before the weekend. The last screenings are
around 8.30-9pm so don’t expect to go there late at night. Be sure to check
different programmes as cinemas such as the Lighthouse offer late-night
showings at the weekend.
As you may have noticed, Dublin offers
different types of films which can be a pleasant break between the work and the
parties of student life. And if you are an international student who wishes to
learn English, going to see a film in its English version is a good way to
improve whilst still having fun.
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