The words STUDENT SAVING ACCOUNT are glaring up at me from my phone as I try, unsuccessfully, to justify squeezing a cinema ticket into my weekly budget. Forking out £15 to watch a film that, one, could be my weekly food shop, and two, I could watch for free online if I wait a month or two, feels more unrealistic by the minute. But “saving the cinema” has been the sole plea of filmmakers in recent years as they try to steer us away from streaming services and illegal websites and into costly theatre seats. We hail phenomena like Barbenheimer or blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick for pulling cinema back off the cliff edge it continuously teeters on. Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan sent out a similar message to his dedicated fans when the pandemic was enforcing cinema closures in 2020: “Movie theatres have gone dark, and will stay that way for a time. But movies, unlike unsold produce or unearned interest, don’t cease to be of value. Much of this short-term loss is recoverable. When this crisis passes, the need for collective human engagement, the need to live and love and laugh and cry together, will be more powerful than ever.”

“So how can we straddle our ethics with our budget?”

This “need” for that feeling of togetherness set against the sweet and salty smell of popcorn is exactly what cinemas provide. Undeniably, the big screen brings you a theatrical experience to immerse yourself in, one that a laptop or phone just can’t quite measure up to. The cinema, and films in general, are places of escapism from the ever-present looming deadlines, endless reading lists, or the constant stream of notifications buzzing in your back pocket. This “need” for that feeling of togetherness set against the sweet and salty smell of popcorn is exactly what cinemas provide. The big screen brings you a theatrical experience to immerse yourself in, one that a laptop or phone just can’t quite measure up to. The cinema, and films in general, are places of escapism from the ever-present looming deadlines, endless reading lists, or the constant stream of notifications buzzing in your back pocket. Any film is, in my opinion, made twice better if you watch it in theatres.

“How can we ‘live and love and laugh and cry together’ with popcorn in one hand and cheesy chips in the other?”

Going to the cinema is just one way of keeping your head above the surface of that Cambridge bubble; it’s refreshing, and, of course, entertaining, to keep your finger on the pulse of upcoming releases, whether they be the next summer blockbuster or a new artsy A24. But we arrive back at my previous conundrum: most students, myself included, would not forgo the healing properties of a sweet treat or chips after the club for a cinema ticket that often runs you a shuddering £15. So how can we straddle our ethics with our budget? How can we “live and love and laugh and cry together” with popcorn in one hand and cheesy chips in the other?

Thankfully, the fact that Cambridge is so student-focussed means that there are deals waiting for us! The steepest venue in town is the new Everyman in the Grand Arcade whose concession ticket will set you back £13.50. But in their defence, they do offer you a central and accessible location, comfortable couches, and an admittedly delicious menu. Choose your poison, I suppose.

Vue in the Grafton Centre boasts their ‘Lux Super Saver Seats’ that cost only £8.99, but they have the drawback of placing you so far in front of the screen your neck will crick from craning it upwards. But the situation brightens at the quaint Arts Picture House, just to the left of Spoons. Their under 25s scheme provides tickets for just £5.99 from Monday to Thursday. To access the discount just create a MyPicturehouse account, and make sure to add in your age to the account so the discount activates. Also - pre-book your ticket online! Take it from me, you don’t want to turn up at the door anxiously hot-spotting and creating accounts to purchase tickets in the lobby while the opening credits of A Complete Unknown roll on behind. Or so I’ve heard.

But the Oscar goes to The Light’s student offer Monday through Thursday – two tickets for just £10! Simply show your CAMcard when buying tickets in person or select the student ticket option when booking online. Although you will have to trek down Hill Road to get there, the £5 ticket price is too good to miss. Unless you happen to be reading this from Homerton College, in which case this deal is perfect. Although you will have to find a friend to drag along with you, so good luck!

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