Experiencing an independent cinema for the first time was a game-changer.
My very first screening at the Tyneside was a preview of Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain in October 2024 with my boyfriend of less than a year. We went for the thrill of seeing a film before its general release, and, perhaps more so, because I had a Kieran Culkin-shaped hole in my heart post-Succession. Experiencing an independent cinema for the first time was a game-changer. Since then, I go pretty much whenever I can.
Undoubtedly, some of my favourite visits have been with a friend whose companionship was heavily fostered by the Tyneside. Talking is not a strong point for me, I often find it deeply unpleasant... until it comes to films. We first saw Lost in Translation together and since then have shared countless walks home, discussing films well into the night. Because of her and Tyneside, I've watched films there that I probably would never have even known about, Umrao Jaan and Angel's Egg being some real highlights.
Earlier this year, I took my father to re-watch Sergio Leone's iconic Man with No Name trilogy. Like many eldest daughters, our relationship isn't without its strains but for each instalment we showed up in matching shirts to watch Eastwood on the big screen in awe.
Though we don't spend an awful lot of time together, me and my uncle are similar. Like me, he's not a people person - think Dr House. A few months ago, I spotted that Amelie was showing. I remembered it as one of three DVDs he gave me a while back and decided to ask him to go. After some jokes (and possibly some coercion on the part of my mother) he agreed. Waiting for him by the metro, I was nervous and I'm sure he was too. I knew his coming was a big deal. We talked for a while beforehand and even now, the memory makes me grin. A few weeks later, we even went back to see The Fall, despite not having seen it before.
The cinema helps me spend time with people without feeling excruciatingly awkward and worrying about what to say.
The cinema helps me spend time with people without feeling excruciatingly awkward and worrying about what to say. While many have helped me form lasting bonds, Tyneside has the additional bonus of being independent, minimising the amount of money going to larger chains.
My most recent visit to the Tyneside was to see Whisper of the Heart with that same boyfriend. Two years and 86 trips later, it was every bit as dear and delightful as that first time.