In Praise of ... the Irish Film Institute
24 November 09

Nestled in Temple Bar, one of Ireland's most tourist-heavy areas, is a verifiable film treasure. The Irish Film Institute (IFI) on Eustace Street is where I spent my Sunday evening.
 
Home to a wide collection of artsy films - lesser knowns, foreign films, film noir, rare 1930s black and whites, and countless other collections that you wouldn't find in your local XtraVision and quite possibly have never heard of - the IFI has a reputation for bringing the avant garde that the film world has to offer right here to Ireland.
 
Down a cobbled alley I strolled and into the brightly lit IFI foyer. The ticket booth sits in the middle of a room with café-style seats for the coffee-drinking film-goers around the walls. Straight ahead is the library of films, some for rental and some for sale. Also in stock, some reprints of old film posters (Rita Hayworth as Gilda caught my eye), and numerous glossy books about the art of film and film-making.
 
The theatres are spacious and comfortable. I was lucky enough to be in Screen Two. It involved climbing up a spiral staircase (although there is a lift) and entering a room that used to be a chapel, and still bears a striking resemblance to one. This enhanced the sense that the cinema was a part of an older tradition of film, despite the uber-hip vibe downstairs.
 
There is a definite buzz to this area, and a warm and delicious smell coming from the restaurant section. Wine, delicious burgers, ample portions of lasagne and much more make up the menu, but the restaurant is known for its platter. This, my friends, is a massive affair and should not be ordered lightly. An amalgam of various IFI specialities, it'd feed three, four - if you're dining with small people!
 
The IFI boasts a ritzy film experience, suitable for anyone looking for some less mainstream films, or those who simply wish to be cutting edge and cool for an afternoon (like myself). Watch out for the various themed festivals they run each year. During my visits, I've seen some Kubrick, some Hitchcock, and some 'absolute classics'. A must for anyone eager to see the latest bohemian, unorthodox, experimental offerings from the world of film. Also perfect for those who would like to see an old film as it was first watched - on a massive screen in a room with velvet seats and the eternal scent of cooking popcorn.

- Alison Treacy