[Mini Theater Revisited] 28th Shibuya style trend, hot summer of mini theaters... Part 5 Bunkamura movie theater, Le Cinema

One of the achievements of mini theaters is that they have increased the number of female movie fans. Le Cinema is the theater in Shibuya that was created with the most female audience in mind. It is located in a cultural complex called Bunkamura, and a culturally expansive program has been organized in conjunction with concerts and art museums.

When it started, it had a strong image of being a French movie, and films starring Isabelle Adjani and Catherine Deneuve were big hits. ``The Beautiful Dispute '' (1991), starring Emmanuelle Béart, also attracted a lot of attention.

French director Patrice Leconte and Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski are also popular directors born at this theater. Many popular Asian films have been screened, including hits such as `` Farewell My Concubine '' (1993), `` The Road to First Love '' (99), and `` In the Mood for Love '' (2000). .

More than 30 years have passed since it opened, but in recent years it has expanded to include even more nationalities and has become popular as a theater that attracts high-quality works from all over the world. This year, the blockbuster French film `` Ponette '' (1996), which was produced at this theater, will be revived at another theater (Eurospace).

*The following articles were serialized on the website operated by Geijutsu Shimbun between 2013 and 2014. This time, we have received permission from Sawako Omori and Geijutsu Shinbunsha Co., Ltd. to reprint this work.

Index

• Cultural complex opens
• french women movies
• Problematic works by European directors
• Asian movies are also big hits.
• Travel and gourmet movies too

Cultural complex opens

In the 1980s, there were several mini-theaters around Udagawacho in Shibuya. Inside Parco Part 3 near Koen-dori, there is a multipurpose hall called Space Part 3 (opened in 1981, which later became Cinequinto), which also served as a mini-theater, and in front of it is Cinemarise (opened in 1986). Cine Saison Shibuya (opened in 1985) is located inside The Prime, a building near the station.

The area around Udagawa Town is home to many record shops and live music venues, so these theaters screened urban-style movies aimed at young people.

Eurospace (opened in 1982), which was located in Sakuragaoka-cho on the other side of the station, was following its own independent route, showing more minor and experimental works.

Taking a different approach from the Shibuya mini-theaters of the time, a movie theater targeted at adult women living along the Tokyu line opened in the last year of the 1980s. These are Le Cinema 1 and 2, two mini theaters adjacent to the Tokyu main store. The big difference from other mini-theaters is that this theater is located inside a cultural complex called Bunkamura.

Bunkamura also has two halls (Orchard Hall and Theater Cocoon) where opera, ballet, classical concerts and plays can be performed, and an art museum (The Museum), as well as Deumago Paris, the first overseas business partner of the famous Parisian cafe. It was also included.

“When I first heard the concept of Bunkamura, I thought it would be a very convenient and convenient place.There are various facilities in the building, so culture lovers can have a variety of experiences there. It’s from.”

Yukiko Nakamura, programming producer, who has been in charge of organizing Le Cinema's programming since its opening, reflects on her impressions when it first opened.

The year Bunkamura opened in 1989 was a turning point in history. Overseas, the Berlin Wall fell in November, ending the Cold War between East and West. In Japan, the era name changed from Showa to Heisei in January. At that time, Japan was still experiencing the last of its bubble economy. Perhaps that is why it was possible to create such a gorgeous cultural facility like Bunkamura.

Speaking of culture buildings that also had mini-theaters, there was already Roppongi's WAVE (opened in 1983) built by the Saison Group, but this was a culture building that focused more on images and sound than culture as a whole.

However, Bunkamura, which was built on the site of the parking lot of the Tokyu main store, was larger and had a larger site, and by being built next to a department store, it was intended to be a cultural facility aimed at the adult female population that would come there. .

The idea was created by Noboru Goto, who served as president and chairman of Tokyu Corporation during his lifetime. Pre-Culture Village planning began in 1982, concrete construction plans were announced in 1984, and the park finally opened five years later.

``Unfortunately, Chairman Goto passed away when Bunkamura opened, but I think at that time there was a mindset that companies should focus on culture,'' producer Nakamura recalls.

This new facility in Shibuya had high expectations from people other than those involved. In 1986, President Tsuji Masuda, who contributed to the development of Shibuya as the head of Parco, published an article like this in a newspaper.

“Tokyu is abolishing the ``Toyoko Theater'' on the roof of the Tokyu Department Store and building a facility called ``Tokyu Bunkamura'' behind the main store. You'll be able to open it.'' (Asahi Shimbun morning edition, October 10, 1986)

The title of this column is "The City is a Theater." With the opening of three Parcos in Shibuya, which also have spaces for plays and events, the area around Udagawa-cho has become particularly lively, but President Masuda's personal theory is that ``the town flourishes because of the presence of theaters.'' was. That's probably why he encouraged Tokyu's new project, which has nothing to do with his company.

However, Tokyu looked at Parco from a different perspective.

``Our thinking was that the culture created by Parco and others was centered around images such as commercials.Instead, we wanted to create a more authentic culture.The Toyoko Theater, which was located in the west building of the Toyoko store, was located downstairs The Ginza subway line runs through this hall, so you could hear its noise.We desperately needed a proper theater and hall to provide authentic culture,'' said Mamoru Miura, president of Tokyu Department Store at the time. (From Bunkamura's ed. Cheers from SHIBUYA, published by Bunka Publishing Bureau).

Parco's commercials certainly have a strong impression, and their target audience is young people who like subculture-related things.

However, as mentioned above, Bunkamura, which was created by Tokyu, was aimed at an adult female demographic. One factor may have been the location, which is adjacent to the Shoto district, which is known as a high-class residential area.

``Shibuya is a city with a mix of many things, such as the Center Gai, which used to have a dangerous atmosphere near Koen-dori, there is a pop line that leads to Harajuku, and the area around Shinsen used to be a red-light district. I think Bunkamura aimed to create a space where adults could also relax,'' says producer Nakamura regarding the direction of this facility.