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With US spy comedy on bill, Moscow drive-in cinema re-opens
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People stand next to parked cars at the Moscow's first drive-in movie theater as the coronavirus lockdown is lifted in Moscow, Russia, on June 11, 2020. (REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov)
R
ussians got a taste of open-air cinema under balmy twilit skies on Thursday when a Moscow drive-in movie theater re-opened for business after the city's coronavirus lockdown ended.
On the bill was My Spy, a US action comedy and, with regular cinemas still closed three days after the two-month lockdown was lifted, scores of moviegoers parked up to watch.
"I want to go out in the open air. This is a great opportunity to watch a movie with friends under the sky," said one, who gave his name only as Pavel.
Olga Zinyakova, president of Karo, the movie chain that is running the 100-vehicle-capacity site in northwest Moscow, said it would be exploring how it could open more drive-in theaters even after all coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted.
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"We feel that this format has undeservedly been forgotten," she said.
Even if regular movie theaters reopen as planned next month, Karo estimates that revenues across Russia's cinema chains will fall between 35 percent and 40 percent this year.
According to recommendations by the country's consumer health watchdog, theater audience members will have remain at least 1.5 meters apart and employees will have to disinfect cinemas between screenings.
