Delightful movie night under the stars
WHITE RIVER - Arriving at The Premier Winkler Hotel on Saturday evening, one could be forgiven for thinking you had strayed into a genteel world set back in time.
Extra care, attention to detail and the most friendly of staff, The Winkler is a four-star delight.
Its brand-new concept, a cinema under the stars, was inaugurated with a screening of the movie Hidden Figures this weekend, and was a resounding success and memorable experience.
A soft glow of lamplight all along the pathway welcomed moviegoers.
At the amphitheatre, they were welcomed with a ladle-full helping of gluhwein, an odd but not unpleasant experience for those not accustomed to the flavour of spiced and heated red wine.
The amphitheatre was decked with chairs and braziers burning brightly, a popcorn machine was popping merrily on one side and a table was beautifully decked with bottles of Noble Hills wine.
There was a small bar area for those not partial to the grape and a large area was set aside, fires burning, for the evening meal, in this case various types of hearty, cheesy pizza.
Wine and conversation flowed in equal measure. Much laughter and camaraderie could be heard as groups of people made their way to their seats and found the most suitable spot. Many brought their own blankets, adding to the cosy and inviting feel of fireside storytelling, which in a modern way, was exactly what this was. For those who didn’t have their own blankets, the delightful staff were always on hand to tuck you in.
Simon Sutherland, the man behind the evening and general manager of The Winkler, ensured that everyone was happy and had plenty of popcorn.
The lights eventually dimmed and the credits came onto the big screen, and it was with interest and enthusiasm that the audience settled down, got comfortable and prepared for the star of the evening, the movie.
Hidden Figures tells the story of three African-American women who worked at NASA and whose contributions made the launching an astronaut into space possible.
Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P Henson, Dorothy Vaughan, played by Octavia Spencer, and Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monáe, were the true brain power behind one of the most-0significant events in history, launching the astronaut Jon Glenn, played by Glen Powell, into orbit.
This incredible triumph changed the space race and the world awoke to infinite possibility. The movie was uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable, as well as informative and thought provoking.
