Quiet Bangkok Cinema, well almost! Quiet Bangkokian becomes delirious with joy on discovering quiet havens in Bangkok. For over two years I had not been to the cinema in Bangkok, no longer being able to bear the abominable noise and sound levels. Finally, yesterday evening the desire to see two of my favourite film stars, Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche, lured me to go to house RCA. And there it was, a quiet art house cinema in Bangkok, a temple of cinema in an oasis of quiet.
Outside all is noise, but on entering an immense door on the third floor of RCA Plaza you achieve quiet in an artistic setting, places to sit quietly, a library to quietly read of cinema, a cafe to quietly drink coffee. No commercial television, no muzak, no NOISE. I am overwhelmed.
And the cinema itself is a small theatre, with the most comfortable seating.
And an excellent programme of films to come.
It is 'almost' perfect. Truth to tell, the sound level is still somewhat loud during previews and the one art advertisement, hitting 82 decibels at peaks. But once the main feature film began one becomes oblivious of the tolerable sound level. If only it could be reduced just a little; the acoustics of the theatre are fine. For the very hard of hearing there are always the subtitles!
The house RCA website is included among the links of this web log.
Correction: 14th April 2006 The sound level during previews etc. is now far too loud. WHY? In the showing of "Broken Flowers" at 14.00 there were at most three people in cinema 2. The level of sound during the previews, advertisement, and the royal anthem was far, far too high, reaching pain level. Quiet Bangkok will be forced in future to remain outside the door until the main programme begins!
Hong Kong takes its noise seriously as well it might, being one of the most densely populated urban areas on earth. The Government site on environmantal issues includes a very detailed and informative section on noise on the city. The regulatory noise levels are deserving of particular attention. Details of meetings of the Advisory Council on the Environment would serve as a model for city managers anywhere (BMA!)
