Bigger screen beckons: Magic Lantern opens Friday

(Photo/Spokesman-Review)

In one way or another, coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on pretty much everyone. It’s been especially hard on small businesses, those mom-and-pop operations that depend on regular client patronage just to break even – much less make a profit.

For Spokane movie fans, that mom-and-pop operation is – and has been, off and on, for the past four decades or more – the Magic Lantern Theatre.

So for those fans, and for the theater itself, good news is on the horizon: The theater is planning to reopen on Friday.

What has become the standard protocols will be in place: 50 percent capacity, mask-wearing, etc. And both theaters, the large (capacity about 100) and the small (capacity about 30) will be made available for rental.

And what’s on tap for Friday;’s reopening: two Academy Award-nominated films.

The first is “Nomadland,” Chloe Zhao’s exploration of contemporary American, starring Frances McDormand. “Nomadland” has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Zhao) and Best Actress (for McDormand).

Zhao’s film also won four BAFTAs, including Best Picture, and was named Best Picture-Drama at the Golden Globes.

The second is “Minari,” Lee Isaac Chung’s study of a Korean family trying to work a farm in 1980s Arkansas. “Minari” also has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Chung), Best Actor (for Steven Yuen) and Best Actress (for Yuh-Jung Youn).

In addition, “Minari” also has snared wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and SAG Awards.

Both films have been available for some time for home streaming. But there’s nothing like seeing a movie on a bigger screen. And the Lantern is anxious to show us why.

As the owners have said in the past, “We’ve missed you, Spokane, and can’t wait to see you back at the theater!”