Foreign films at theater are missed

It is Thursday, almost the day to start making plans to attend a movie of Global Cinema Cafe series. What will it be this week? “The Pianist”, 2003; “In America”, 2004; “March of the Penguins”, 2005; “Volver”, 2006; “Pans Labyrinth”, 2007; “Outsourced”, 2008; “Milk”, 2009; “As it is in Heaven”, 2010; “Of Gods and Men” 2011; “The Intouchables” 2012; “The Butler”, 2013; and “Nebraska”, 2014.

Such great movies, and such wonderful times were had. We and our friends Charles and Mickey Glock would rush over right at 7 p.m. so we could get the best seats in the house. After procuring the most amazingly decadent brownies in the whole wide world, we would start working the crowd, chatting with friends, and giving hugs and updating family news. The half hour before the show was probably one of the more social hours that Sandpoint ever had.

The Karen Bowers would arrive on stage to applause. She always seemed surprised, but we appreciated all the work she did getting such great movies for our little town of Sandpoint. We got to enjoy Chinese, French, Italian and Korean global movies, among many others.

Recently this has changed. I know that Karen has retired and that there is a new director. I am told by the new board to “fall in love with the Panida all over again.” The problem is that I never fell out of love with the Panida. I am hoping and waiting that perhaps the Panida will return to the glory days of foreign films. They are what I miss. And I miss them very much.

JOANNE COTTRELL

Sandpoint