L'Épée de bois

L'Épée de bois is an independent cinema located at 100 rue Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is classified as an "Art et Essai" (art and experimental) cinema and operates as a neighborhood movie theater. The cinema occupies the ground floor and basement of a seven-story building that was constructed on the site of the former avant-garde Théâtre de l'Épée de Bois, which was demolished in 1971 by property developers. In 1978, Madeleine Hartman purchased the ground floor and basement to install two cinema screens. Behind its steel facade, the cinema has two auditoriums with 76 and 64 seats, both equipped with Dolby sound. Its programming is dedicated entirely to French and European films in original version, classified in the "recherche" (research) and "art et essai" categories. These are films that are no longer in exclusive first-run release but have met with public success in the preceding weeks, a practice known as "cinéma en continuation." The cinema perpetuates the principle of the neighborhood cinema. After Madeleine Hartman, the cinema was sold several times. It was notably managed for several years by Gérard and Anne Vaugeois, who also ran Les 3 Luxembourg. It was later acquired by the independent circuit Cinémovida, based in Perpignan, which operates about ten establishments across France. In 2017, after ten years of operation under Cinémovida, it was sold to Dragan Klisaric and Martine Metert of the Hémisphère Theater in Coulommiers. The cinema is located near the intersection of rue Mouffetard with rue de l'Épée-de-Bois and rue Jean-Calvin, and is served by line 7 of the Paris Métro at Censier-Daubenton station. It remains an active independent cinema, offering a weekly program and newsletter to its audience.

The site of L'Épée de bois was originally occupied by an avant-garde theater called Théâtre de l'Épée de Bois. In 1971, this theater was destroyed by real estate developers to make way for a seven-story building. In 1978, Madeleine Hartman bought the ground floor and basement of the new building and converted the space into two cinema screens, thus founding the cinema L'Épée de bois. The cinema was subsequently sold several times. For several years it was managed by Gérard and Anne Vaugeois, who also directed Les 3 Luxembourg, another Parisian cinema. Later, it was acquired by the independent cinema circuit Cinémovida, based in Perpignan, which operates around ten establishments across France. After ten years of operation under Cinémovida, the cinema was sold in 2017 to Dragan Klisaric and Martine Metert of the Hémisphère Theater in Coulommiers. The cinema has maintained its identity as an independent Art et Essai venue, focusing on French and European films in original version, often in continuation release. It continues to serve the neighborhood and cinema enthusiasts in Paris.

• 2017

  After ten years under Cinémovida, the cinema is sold to Dragan Klisaric and Martine Metert of Hémisphère Theater.

• 1978

  Madeleine Hartman buys the ground floor and basement to install two cinema screens, founding L'Épée de bois.

• 1971

  The avant-garde Théâtre de l'Épée de Bois is destroyed by real estate developers.

Independent Art et Essai neighborhood cinema specializing in French and European films in original version, often in continuation release.

• Two cinema screens (76 and 64 seats)

  Equipped with Dolby sound.

• Art et Essai film programming

  Dedicated to French and European films in original version, in continuation release.

1. 1Accueil — Epée de boiscine-epeedebois.fr
2. 2L'Épée de bois — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3L'Épée de bois — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org