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Brussels, Palace

            Cinema Palace, Rue Anspach / Anspachlaan 85, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Architect: Paul Hamesse.

Brussels is undergoing a renaissance of sorts in its cinema scene. First the tiny Styx in Elsene re-opened its doors last autumn after having closed its doors in 2015. Then someone bought the former Cinema Variétés building in Brussels-City, promising to re-open it eventually for films and as an arts centre.

The Palace cinema is located in an 136-year-old building, at 85 Rue Anspach / Anspachlaan, one block south of the Bourse in central Brussels. It was re-opened with the help of a handful of film industry heavyweights and government funding. The cinema  welcomed British star Charlotte Rampling to its grand (re)opening last February.

Pathé took over the building on Anspachlaan in 1913, but the building itself dates from 1881 and  included a Winter Garden and four bars. Pathé named it Theatre de la Bourse, then Brussels’ largest entertainment venue, acting as a cinema, music hall and cabaret cafe. Seating was provided in orchestra and two balconies and originally the rear of the orchestra level of the auditorium had restaurant type seating with tables.

After World War I, it was converted into a 2,500-seat cinema and re-named Pathe Bourse Cinema. Alterations were carried out in 1951 when it received an Art Deco style make-over. By 1965 it programmed childrens films. This continued until 1972 when it was re-named Pathe-Palace Cinema and played general release films until it closed in the late-1970s. In 2019, the Art Nouveau beauty has been fully restored to its former glory.

Every director dreams of a premiere in a place like this, Flemish filmmaker Fien Troch (Kid, Home), who sits on the cinema’s board of directors, told De Standaard. “This is important for Belgian cinema,” she said. “Flemish films have a hard time in Brussels, while French-language films struggle to find an audience in Flanders. This cinema will be a reflection of the city: Multilingual and multicultural.”

The Palace is home to four cinemas, which will show films with both Dutch and French subtitles. The former two-level foyers which once served the balcony & 2nd balcony were lovingling restored to their original 1913 splendour and will be used as a space for receptions and special events. The former orchestra level and balcony have been removed and the basement opened up to form a huge atrium which rises to the underside of what was the 2nd balcony level. When seen in May 2018 an exhibition space in the basement had a display featuring the refurbishment of the cinema. Cinema Palace is supported by the French Community, and Troch says there are talks with the Flemish Community Commission in Brussels to offer additional support.

Source: Lisa Bradshaw (Flanders Today) and Howard B. Haas and Ken Roe (Cinema Treasures).

Taken on: March 30, 2019

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Sets appears in: • Brussels 2019 • Cinemas

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