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Conventional theatres and most other forms of
indoor entertainment remain closed as Spain, one of the world's
hardest-hit countries, gradually lifts coronavirus restrictions.
But the Autocine Race drive-in, where movie-goers stay safely
ensconced in their cars, has got the green light to reopen.
"Drive-in cinemas were tailor made for this kind of virus,"
co-founder Cristina Portas told Reuters.
Even so, the cinema has reduced capacity to 100 cars and
introduced social distancing measures.
"We deliver food to your car so you don't have to get out of
your vehicle," Portas said.
Drive-in movie theatres are seeing a revival in other parts of
the world as the leisure industry figures out how to deal with
the constraints of pandemic, popping up for example in
Lithuania, Dubai, the United States and Cannes in France.
At Madrid's Autocine, ushers in high-visibility jackets and face
protectors guided cars to neatly marked out spaces, ensuring
safe distancing.
As the sun set over the city, John Travolta and Olivia
Newton-John danced across the big screen, with two 1950's cars
on display beneath it, transporting spectators back to the
American high-school life of that period, far away from concerns
of the pandemic.
A white-masked movie-goer who gave her name only as Belen,
explained the appeal from the passenger seat.
"It's a very safe form of entertainment for the situation we are
living through ... It's a lot of fun and they show great
movies."
(Reporting by Sergio Perez; Writing by Nathan Allen; Editing by
Andrei Khalip and Frances Kerry)
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