Exhibition exposes ‘grim state’ of Amman’s old cinemas

AMMAN — The tragic and grim scene of old cinemas in Amman prompted Raed Asfour to participate set up an exhibition to expose Jordanians to the state of abandonment these theatres are witnessing. 

Titled ‘‘The End’’, the exhibition, organised at Al Balad Theatre in Jabal Amman, is held as part of this year’s Image Festival, which will wrap up at the end of this month.

Al Balad Theatre’s director Asfour said he took these photos in 2003 but did not initially think about showcasing them to the public. 

“The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Identity’ and it matches with the project I created. This is what encouraged me to start this exhibition,” he told The Jordan Times. 

Asfour brought together 50 photos providing an insight into the grim state these 17 Amman cinemas now find themselves in.

He described how those movie houses used to be a well-known haunt for intellectuals and families alike. “Now, they are gone with the wind,” he said. 

“They were of cultural significance and a main stop for Jordanians to visit during Amman’s golden era. Schools used to organise trips for students to attend screenings of important films. Now, they have turned into abandoned venues with damaged equipment,” Asfour added. 

He called on concerned parties to renovate these cinemas and bring them back to life.

“These sites can be part of the cultural tourism in Amman. Downtown Amman has started attracting families again, but they mostly turn to cafes. I believe these theatres can be important attractions in the area,” the photographer noted.