Accattone
20 Rue Cujas,
Paris
75005
20 Rue Cujas,
Paris
75005
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Hotel
Previous Names: Studio Cujas, Espace Accattone Cinema
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Replacing a famous Latin Quarter cabaret named Gypsy, the Studio Cujas opened on July 3, 1957 with a Swedish film directed by Arne Mattsson. It had a narrow auditorium but quite a big space for the façade and the lobby.
Run by a small chain of Parisian movie theatres, mostly American movies were presented in their original version. In the 1960’s, this theatre was managed by Francois Truffaut, the French director.
After being dark for a time, a new owner began more than just a renovation - a new concept, with a book shop, a bar, a new name, Espace Accattone Cinema, (derived from the Pasolini movie “Accattone”), and an art gallery. It re-opened on 23rd September 1987.
Without financial help from the City of Paris, this kind of art movie theatre would not survive and sometimes its future is not obvious.
It was closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was announced in August 2020 that the closure would be permanent, and the cinema had been purchased by the neighbouring Hotel Excelsior to become an extension for the hotel. It was gutted in October 2022.
Contributed by
Xavier Delamare
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
If the theatre name is that of a Pasolini movie, the name is misspelled…either the theatre itself, or this posting entry, or both. The correct spelling is ACCATTONE. It is the name of the main character, played by Franco Citti, in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1961 film masterpiece. The word “accattone” (two t’s) means street beggar. In the film, the character Accattone is a pimp of the Roman “borgate” or slum-suburbs.
I just checked the web entry for the cinema. It is spelled Accattone, with two t’s. Therefore this entry should be corrected.
I have very fond memories of this movie theater. When I was going to school in Paris for a few months in 1994, I was lucky to only live three blocks away, and could always count on Accatone to show a Pasolini, Oshima or Cavani movie. It’s small, very casual, the ticketseller doesn’t appear until five minutes before the screening, and whenever I return to Paris each year and the schedule never seems to change. It usually includes TEOREMA, BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL, NIGHT PORTER, SALO and IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES. But Parisians are lucky that they can see these movies every other week or so on a big screen. Viva Accattone.
I caught a few films here back on my frequent visits of Paris. It was an interesting policy in that they tend to run the same films every day or every week. There may be five screenings a day here, with a different film playing in repertory. But the films stay and stay and stay for months, if not years. You can see all the film cannisters in the lobby. There looks to be a rather steep staircase or even ladder that leads to the projection booth. It must be fun lugging those film cannisters back and forth.
A nice little theatre, right near the Gardens due Luxenbourg.
I caught Wenders' “Paris, Texas”, Derek Jarman’s “Carravaggio” and Ken Loach’s “Family Life” at this theatre.
A 1998 view of the Espace Accattone:
View link
The previous picture was taken by me in 1998. My first time in this cinema was in 1995 when I saw Derek Jarman’s “The Tempest”. I still kept the ticket, on which the cinema name printed as “Accatone”. Also, the information on the magazine “Pariscope” marked as “Accatone” too.
Am looking for first hand accounts of seeing The Night Porter at this theater in connection with film history research i am engaged in. Anyone with memories of The night Porter, please feel free to get in touch. .co.uk
photo of the exterior taken sept 2009 as the espace accattone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3951019613/
Oh, this is MY place in Paris: I spent afternoons of pure pleasure there.
I found this magical theatre thanks to Pasolini, who is always in my heart (I am italian): I could not miss a cinema named as one of his movies.
I saw “La ricotta” and “Edipo Re” there and I discovered Rossellini’s “Amore” (with an outstanding Anna Magnani) and “Un chien andalou” and many mores.
The ticketseller is such a nice guy and I found a great artist in this place too: he was showing his work one evening while I was there.
This little cinema is a jewel: viva l'Epsace Accattone, viva Paris!