After being dropped at the farthest end of Centennial Park in Paddington, my date and I began our long ‘Wolf Creek 3’ style walk to Moonlight Cinema. After what felt like forever and after avoiding any potential psychos we finally spotted a big screen and beaming lights beaconing us up ahead.
Cascading down the grass hill in front of me were rows of bean bag lounges and fairy lights strung across the fences like a date scene from a John Hughes movie. We made our way to the Gold Grass section where we were presented with a gourmet picnic hamper courtesy of Lilydale Free-Range Chicken.
Inside the basket were all the essentials for an outdoor cinema experience including a picnic blanket, insect repellant, a bottle of Jansz Tasmanian wine, San Pellegrino, a cheese platter, a strawberry and brownie dessert box and the pièce de résistance; a Thai chicken and herb salad. We sampled the contents of the basket on rotation. First cheese, then the zingy Thai chicken salad and strawberries and then back to the salad, then more cheese. The blanket came in handy too. I was inappropriately dressed and absolutely freezing.
On the big screen for the evening was The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, an incredibly imaginative film adaptation of James Thurber’s short story starring Ben Stiller. It follows the life of the main character, Walter Mitty, and his tendency to ‘zone out’ and escape his daily life in favour of fantasy scenarios. It’s about the dissatisfaction one can have with ordinary life and reminds us to start living our ideal life instead of dreaming about it. Looking around and my comfy beanbag, full glass and plate of cheese I’d say i’m doing ok.
The atmosphere at the Moonlight Cinema is friendly and interactive. So many of us are used to sitting in solitary silence when we watch a movie in the cinema, afraid to laugh out loud or show too much emotion. At Moonlight Cinema it’s all about having fun and embracing the people (and elements) around you. Moonlight Cinema Belvedere Amphitheatre, Broome Ave Centennial Park NSW 2021 (02) 9339 6699 Photos courtesy of: Lilydale – Living Free Range https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.771888882829380.1073741827.220723451279262&type=1