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Gwangju Theater, the Heart of Movies and Culture for 70 Years

By Ahn Seon-woo, Tribune Reporter

Nowadays, it is hard to see movies that lack commercial potential and popular appeal in local areas. However, Gwangju citizens can enjoy unpopular but valuable movies that have not been shown at multiplexes unlike other local areas. That place is Gwangju Theater, which mainly shows independent and noncommercial films and has a 70 year history as a central space of popular culture in Gwangju. I visited Gwangju Theater to discover hor the Gwangju Theater was maintained during those 70 years.

Gwangju Theater first opened on October 1^st, 1935. At that time, there were not enough places to hold cultural events. Therefore, various kinds of performances and sports events were shown at Gwangju Theater. After other cultural facilities were built, the number of cultural performances at the theater has decreased. Gwangju Theater still plays a role as an exclusive theater for art films, and a cultural place for various artistic and cultural events in Gwangju. Now there are about three featured programs: Emakero Tonghanda, in which people can enjoy a music show and a movie at the same time, Saturday Cine Club,which is a free talk about a movie after watching it and Watching with the Community, which shows short films and independent movies. Aside from these programs, it is used as a gallery where artists can instal their work. Moreover, it gives citizens a chance to take in a bit of culture. As mentioned above, the Gwangju Theater is a good place for cinephiles and young artists around Gwangju, and people who want enjoy independent or art films that are not shown at other, commercial theaters. However, many people do not know about the Gwangju Theater. Though I have lived in Gwangju for 19 years (nearby the theater downtown), I only discovered the existence of Gwangju Theater recently. The number of audiences each show times at the theater is usually about 10. I am sorry that though Gwangju Theater provides many cultural events and show good movies, many people are unable to enjoy them because just they do not know about it.

Visiting the Gwangju Theater, I was impressed by the hand-painted movie posters displayed on the walls. It was so unique. I will go there again gladly if some movies that attract my interest are released at the Gwangju Theater. If you want to get out of the drudgery of your daily life, I recommend you go Gwangju Theater. You can enjoy diverse cultural activities that you cannot do in other places as well as watch good movies.