Cahors: one last screening at the Le Quercy cinema?

Cahors, Tuesday May 10, 1949. 4 years after the capitulation of the Wehrmacht. Thirst for freedom, thirst for peace, thirst for love. This evening, the Cadurcians are traveling to see “Aux yeux du souvenir” on the big screen with Michèle Morgan and Jean Marais. Romanticism with dramatic action.

But the Cadurcians travel above all to discover the new cinema in town: Le Quercy. Its name in red relief stands out from the facade, at 871 rue Emile Zola. Georges and Rosette Serres, the owners, are proud of their youngest child. Red velvet armchairs, to pay homage to the theater where the shows were often bloody and dramatic. Yellow honeycomb drapes.

The Le Quercy cinema in Cahors, an atmosphere

Cinema, a modern place for catharsis. The usher. Popcorn, candy or ice cream. A romantic movie. A careful decoration, with, in the hall, a “noodle” lighting fixture, a unique piece with 9 neon lights, manufactured especially for Le Quercy, by the Lumilux company. And an interior balcony. Rare, even today.

Ford Vedette, Citroën 2cv and Peugeot 203 on the streets. A period. Nostalgia? There is a large audience. The evening promises to be beautiful. It was 75 years ago. A life.

Nanie Serres remembers

Their daughter Nanie Serres, who owned and managed this theater for many years, remembers: “At that time, indoor cinema was doing very well. It was a unifying show. My parents, associated with Mr. Alexandre Bessières, had decided to open a new cinema, after Le Palais des Fêtes, the other cinema that my parents had managed, Place de la Libération, since April 1, 1933. I remember a few moments strong. In 1966, when René Clément released his film “Is Paris Burning?” » the Communist Party of Cahors invited Colonel Rol-Tanguy (architect of the liberation of Paris) for a special screening. In 1987, I invited Louis Malle for the premiere screening of his film “Goodbye Children”. There were great moments in these places. »

Today the building is still there. Nothing has changed. The typical architecture – small palace style from the golden age of cinemas in the 1950s has not changed. Except for the color of the letters. Red has given way to turquoise blue. Even the entrance hall is a real “time-capsule” which invites us on a journey through time.

And now ?

But there is no one left. Empty. The room is desperately empty. For a time, after the opening of the Grand Palais complex, the room was classified as an “Art et Essay”, the ideal place for screenings of unclassifiable films, outside categories, far from blockbusters with pre-made formats and ideas. A complementarity which ultimately came to an end. Lack of will. What about today ? Tomorrow ?

Ludovic Graillat, owner-manager of this room, was contacted. He mentioned a renovation project. Will the project preserve the appearance of this cinema, its atmosphere which has become rare, even unique? Is a reopening program planned? We do not know it.

The 75th anniversary has passed, but no special event took place. Have we missed a great opportunity to celebrate cinema in Cahors? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt.

Some associations see this remarkable place as a crucible to once again celebrate the joys of cinema, or, why not, the history of television on the big screen. Like Ciné +, but which ended up taking up residence at the Louis Malle cinema in Prayssac for its Cinédélices festival.

Unfortunately, the motivations of decision-makers do not seem to correspond to logics which could nevertheless combine public enthusiasm and commercial revenues. An invisible force blocks movement, like the 1956 MGM film “Forbidden Planet.” “We want to move forward, but we are surrounded by an invisible will and we do not know how or why,” says the captain of the crew in danger. The future will tell us if this mythical place will end up as a supermarket building or if a burst of common sense will save for future generations this element, already important, and which can only become a definitive part of Cadurcian history.

It is only a question of the will of citizens or communities. Or both at the same time.

We all have, deep in our memory, a Cinema Paradiso. For many Cadurcians, Le Quercy is the last witness to a great era of life in Cahors. “In the eyes of memory”. A premonitory title? We must save Le Quercy! Come on, in the meantime, how about we have one last session? No. A new session!

A.T.

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