'Edinburgh: A Lighthouse in the Fog'. A Brief Guide to the Edinburgh Film Scene

Illustrations by Grace McKenna

Picture this: with popcorn and drink in hand, you go to your local Vue. Ready for the big-screen entertainment that is always promised, you walk in only to find the cinema practically empty. And yet, I doubt many of you will have to picture this at all. In a cinematic climate dominated by streaming culture, this feeling is becoming the new norm throughout mainstream, chain cinemas in the UK. Independent cinemas are regaining their place in this new climate and in Edinburgh, they’re towing the burden of keeping cinema afloat with their charm, warmth and soul.

The root of the problem is the accessibility that streaming provides. It’s a double-edged sword: on the one hand, more people are able to watch movies at an affordable price, but on the other, it enables brain-rotting, garbage cinema and its distribution. Accessibility to such a degree where movies can be watched anywhere at any time has led to them becoming background noise and distractions instead of pieces of art to be enjoyed in-and-of themselves. And there’s no doubt that movies on Netflix like Robert and Thanksgiving almost justify this.

I understand why this might be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think there’s any other plausible explanation. Some say that cinema as an art form is dying out simply due to lack of quality; modern movies are just not as good. It’s true that a lot of terrible movies have come out in the last few years, but there have always been bad movies. The difference is that these terrible movies are granted more attention simply from being more accessible. Also, it’s very easy to name a lot of fabulous, recent movies. For example, Challengers and Anora are great mainstream movies about love with interesting perspectives. Even experimental movies are holding strong, like The Substance and Poor Things.

Quality is not the problem: it’s culture. People are comfortable watching whatever movie they want from the last 150 years on their sofas. Aside from having criminally comfortable recliner seats—in which I’ve consistently fallen asleep—what does a mostly empty cinema screening in Vue offer over watching it at home for a better price? A bigger screen? Bigger speakers? That isn’t going to cut it. 

We need to remember what people loved about cinema. Part of it will be the fact that there simply wasn’t a way to watch current films at home, but a significant part of it must be the community. You’d go to the cinema where there would be a bar or a café, and the screening would be packed with people. I mean, look at football. Sky Sports offers a lot of matches with their membership, but the stadiums are always packed. Why? The roaring atmosphere of a live match. Equally, an empty cinema screening is kind of awkward, sometimes even slightly eerie.

In this regard, Vue and Odeon are as obsolete as DVDs, but the bright side is that Edinburgh is a lighthouse for the kind of cinema that cinephiles are looking for. It houses several independent cinemas with the correct balance of comfort, atmosphere and soul. Needless to say, these experiences often come at higher prices, but it’s worth it. The Scotsman Picture House, The Cameo, and The Filmhouse all have screenings for recent movies, classics (especially during festive periods like Halloween and Christmas), directors’ cuts, and sometimes even recorded theatre performances.

The Scotsman is snugly nestled in an alleyway off of Cockburn Street and forms part of the Scotsman Hotel, giving it a cosy and quaint feel; the screen rooms are furnished with vermillion armchairs and warm red lamps. However, their ticket prices have taken a hit, with them being £16 for adults and £13 for students—I still remember in my first year when the student discount was £10 for a ticket and popcorn. So, unfortunately, this cinema has gravitated towards the expensive side—but it’s still a very pleasant cinematic experience. 

The Cameo is located on Home Street, and with two small screens and a larger one, it has more installations—including a café—making for a very charming atmosphere. The best part is that the average price for tickets with a student discount is around £8 or £9. These are Vue prices for a beautiful cinema with packed screenings, and has become my regular since The Scotsman became more expensive. 

Lothian Road’s The Filmhouse reopened just this year and is another beautiful venue with elegant decorations and a homely bar at the centre of it. Usual ticket prices are £12 for adults and £10.50 for concessions, meaning that all of this comes at a decent price. 

Aside from cinemas, Edinburgh University’s Film Society holds semi-weekly screenings (Tuesdays and Sundays) in Upper Hall, Pleasance. Although it isn’t as lavish as the aforementioned cinemas, the Pleasance Café and Cabaret Bar are pleasant hangout spots to enjoy after screenings with some friends. Also, with tickets priced at £3, and £15 year-long memberships—granting access to every screening for free—it’s a venue with every reason to give it a chance.

Cinema will only be dead when we allow it to be. I’m not here to say that we should never stream movies at home, but if we want to enjoy the experience of a movie as an art piece, these locations are the best way to start. This is especially true for people who are new to Edinburgh and might not yet know of these independent cinemas. These four locations are my favourite screening venues in Edinburgh, and most of my articles will be reviews of their screenings and updates on events or themed seasons. So, if you spare the time between midterms, join me for a laugh at the expense of Monsieur Hulot at Film Soc’s screening of Playtime this Sunday (9^th of November). That way, you can call me out on my nonsense when the review comes out in two weeks. See you there!