“How much do you need?” Quentin Tarantino did something crazy to save this legendary Parisian place

News culture “How much do you need?” Quentin Tarantino did something crazy to save this legendary Parisian place

La Clef, an iconic cinema located in the fifth arrondissement of Paris, narrowly escaped closure thanks to unexpected financial support from Quentin Tarantino. For five years, he had been at the center of a legal battle involving lawyers, real estate developers and government officials. The activist group Cinema Revival, which led the campaign to save this establishment, was finally able to buy the building put up for sale by the former owner, the Caisse d’Epargne banking group. They raised 2 million euros through an online fundraising campaign. Among the contributors are other renowned directors and actors such as David Lynch, Wang Bing, Leos Carax, Céline Sciamma, Sophie Fillières, Agnès Jaoui and Irène Jacob.

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A decisive intervention

The decisive turning point in this story is the intervention of the famous director Quentin Tarantino. Known for his love of independent cinema, Tarantino asked a simple but impactful question: “How much do you need?” When he learned of La Clef’s plight, he decided to act, according to Deadline. His generous donation, described as “major”, played a crucial role in achieving Cinéma Revival’s financial objective. However, this action is not trivial. The director had previously met the members of the La Clef collective during the Cannes festival.

He was really interested in the project and then sent us a mysterious email saying ‘How much do you need to get the cinema? The subject of the email was: ‘this is Quentin Tarantino.’ And then at the end it said ‘sent from my iPad’. He asked how much we needed and then covered everything. This allowed us to complete the financing.

Founded in 1973, this independent cinema has established itself as a landmark for fans of independent and arthouse cinema. La Clef is much more than just a cinema; it is a place of meeting, exchange and discovery where screenings of rare films, debates and various cultural events take place. Its unique and eclectic programming attracts a passionate and varied audience, contributing to the cultural richness of the capital, explain those who are fighting against its closure. The preservation of La Clef is therefore crucial to preserve a space dedicated to the distribution of films which often do not find their place in traditional commercial circuits, and to keep alive a valuable cinematographic heritage for the city of Paris.

A promising future for La Clef

With the funds raised and the support of Quentin Tarantino, La Clef will be able to begin a new phase in its history. The Cinéma Revival group is planning renovation work to modernize the infrastructure while respecting the soul and architecture of the place. These improvements will include updated projection and sound equipment, as well as accommodations to make the cinema more accessible. Once the renovations are completed, La Clef will be able to offer an even more diverse program, including retrospectives, festivals and screenings of independent and international films. The cinema thus hopes to attract a varied audience and become a dynamic cultural center in the heart of Paris, strengthening its role as a meeting place for film buffs.