By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A NARRE Warren man has written to Village Cinemas expressing his shock after he claimed he and his mother were told an art-house film they wanted to see wasn’t showing at Fountain Gate because it wasn’t “a Narre Warren thing”.
Adrian Karpish said he and his mum, Robyn, wanted to see Far From The Madding Crowd – based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy – last month at Village Fountain Gate but were told the film wasn’t showing at the Narre Warren cinema.
In a letter to the News, Mr Karpish articulated his frustration.
“I was informed by that member of staff that this particular movie was not ‘a Narre Warren thing’. I wondered what was meant by ‘a Narre Warren thing’?” he said.
“Is the comment akin to racism? A type of defamatory statement and generalisation made about my suburb?
“I walked away with the impression that only young, uneducated, working-class bogans and their families chose to live in this area.
“If that is the case certainly there is little point in showing anything of educational value to such an illiterate mob of heathens!”
Mr Karpish urged Casey residents to “apply more pressure to Village Cinemas to screen a broader variety of films”.
“Why should the elderly, pensioners, and the disabled be forced to travel long distances just to watch a heart-warming movie that they want to see?” he said.
Taking up the call, Berwick resident Helen wrote to the News in support of Mr Karpish.
“Fortunately there is the Cameo at Belgrave, but that is not always convenient for people, especially when we have a movie theatre virtually around the corner,” Helen wrote.
“Intelligent people are moving into the Casey and Cardinia area daily. Time to improve Village, you need to cater for the over-40s to over-80s age group.”
Village Cinemas did not respond to questions from the News before deadline.
What do you think? Would you like to see a wider variety films at Village Fountain Gate? Let us know at news@starnewsgroup.com.au or www.facebook.com/CranbourneBerwickNews
