The Belgian Brasserie and their art director have indulged their cinematic fantasies and present a series of film classics on specially designated nights returning Sept. 26.
whatever Moscow actor dubbed Bogart’s part and you’ll have a taste of what went on Sept. 5 at Belle-Vue, during one of the restaurant’s “Stella Artois Screen” movie nights.
Besides “Casablanca,” Belle-Vue patrons have seen other classics, like “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The crowd was rather sparse this past Monday, with just a handful of patrons watching Frank Capra’s heartwarming, and yet strangely dark, Christmas tale “It’s a Wonderful Life.” There’s been little promotion of this event, so don’t despair if you missed those early favorites: More are on the way soon.
The movie night is the brainchild of Olga Bletska, Belle-Vue’s art manager, who assures me that the crowd was larger for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on Sept. 4.
“I really like old movies and I decided that it would be wonderful for a patron to come to the Cafe and eat and drink and watch an interesting movie,” she says.
The cafe’s Belgian brasserie menu, Kyivans will know, is one of the best in the city. And as a Belgian restaurant ought to, Belle-Vue has a great list of beers on tap and in the bottle.
In-house Cinephile
Olga correctly believes anybody can have a good time at the movie nights, but she admits that her own tastes were behind the idea.
“I chose these films, first off, because I personally enjoy them,” she says with a bright laugh. But she did do some research. “I also asked friends and patrons for their input in choosing.”
It is rather relaxing watching a film in a restaurant, drinking a beer and eating a meal. The basement of Belle-Vue is a phenomenal place to do it too: The acoustics are great and the screen is a decent size, making every seat a good one. And while it was odd seeing the Capra Christmas classic in mid-September, there was something about sitting at a candlelit table, sipping on a genteel cup of tea and watching James Stewart that seemed very appropriate.
Coming Attractions
The next film in the series will be Roman Polanski’s thriller “Rosemary’s Baby” on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The following day, Sept. 27, see Jack Nicholson in Milos Forman’s “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at 8 p.m.
Stay tuned for the October movie schedule, which hasn’t been finalized yet.
“After a small break, next month we will be showing films every Saturday and Monday,” Olga says. She hopes to show a couple of French films, like “Amelie” and “Eight Wives,” although the final line-up is up in the air.
Belle-Vue
7 Saksahanskoho, 220-8870.
Open daily from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.
English menu: Yes.
English-speaking staff: Yes.
