Moviegoers at BHD Star Hue
Familiar life rhythms
Dieu My, a young audience in Hue City shared: “Watching movies is my favorite form of entertainment, I hardly miss any “hot” movies. Thus, during the time when cinemas closed, I felt down. Now that the cinemas are reopened, my friends and I are meeting again for movies, and waiting for blockbuster movies to hit the cinemas.”
Compared to the time before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of moviegoers to the cinemas has sharply dropped. Partly because many people still have the feeling of being afraid of the crowd, and partly because the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world is still very complicated, so blockbuster movies are not released in the right time. At the BHD Star Hue, in the time before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the average number of screenings was from 28 to 30; it is now only from 18 to 20.
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A cinema is crowded with moviegoers
Mr. Bui Phi Tung, Director of BHD Star Hue said: “Because there are not many new movies, the cinema is still showing movies of the time before the operation stopped. In the early days when the operation restored, the number of the audience was sparse, we had to shorten the operating time, and adjust the number of screenings. Currently, the number of the audience is starting to increase. Hopefully, in the coming time, with better new movies, more audience will go to the cinema. ”
The exhibition "Tingting Art Fair" at Secret Studio (1/7 Nguyen Cong Tru Street, Hue City), which was opened on May 23, is almost the first ever art exhibition launched to the public after the social distancing period. The exhibition, showcasing 50 art works by 22 professional and amateur artists, has attracted visitors not only because the art works are of high quality, but also because the public has not had the chance to enjoy art spaces for a long time.
The exhibition space at Secret Studio starts to attract visitors again
Artist Nguyen Thanh Trung, one of the operators of Secret Studio, shared: “The Secret Studio art space, launched to the public in early 2020, had to be closed shortly afterwards because of the pandemic. Many plans had to be stopped. We are delighted to reopen this art space so as to take care of it. We will maintain monthly exhibitions alternating with workshops to introduce the art, and organize the experience program "Becoming artists for a day" for everyone.”
Operating in safe conditions
Due to the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, since after the Lunar New Year, all cultural, festival and sports activities have to be halted. Many well-prepared cultural activities and festivals have also to be cancelled. It is worth mentioning that the locals have changed their habits, and strictly followed the prevention and control measures to ensure the safety for themselves, their families and the community.
Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Provincial Department of Culture and Sports, said: “The physical needs are finite, but the spiritual needs are immense. After the period of quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic, the roles and the needs of culture for people and the community are revealed. We are still living in the pandemic and have to live with it, the problem is to restore normal activities but still have to strictly prevent the epidemic.”
The culture and sports sector is trying to bring the activities back to a normal state during the COVID-19 period, and restore the previously suspended activities. Up to now, the cultural life of the locals has almost returned to the familiar rhythms. Cultural activities are organized, starting with the flower offering ceremony and exhibitions on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's Birthday.
Movie shows, exhibitions, and art performances gradually return to normal. The high-performance sport training has been maintained; the sports tournaments will be restarted on the basis of hygiene, and safety of epidemic prevention, etc.
Currently, the Provincial Department of Culture and Sports is actively preparing the activities organized by the unit, which will take place during Hue Festival 2020, including the Ao Dai Festival and the national art clubs Festival.
Dr. Phan Thanh Hai said: “2020 is the year with many big events, the cultural sector will deploy activities as planned, facilitating the community and the people to enjoy cultural values in safe conditions."
Story and photos: MINH HIEN