Experience the Magic of Cinema at Hyde Park Picture House: ‘Asteroid City’ is a Must-See Film

Words by Paula.

After three years of being closed due to major renovations, Leeds’ Hyde Park Picture House just reopened its gates for the public audience last week. The historic cinema started off its striking revival with screenings of Wes Anderson’s critically acclaimed “Asteroid City”. The first Saturday night screening in three years has shown to be in great demand. People kept coming in to finally enjoy the vibrant art house’s meticulously selected screenings and its special atmosphere. 

Granted, the cinema’s exceptional atmosphere is also thanks to the building’s outstanding historic architecture which has been polished and revived over the past few years now. The crowd seemed to enjoy and admire the picture house’s new look. Dressed in hip and fancy clothes, they posed for photos in front of the entrance. Most of them also captured the iconic lamppost, situated right in front of the building. Most of all, the extensive work on the building did not go unnoticed - you could hear people talking about the progress of the building site and the now upgraded look of the Grade II listed building. 

Even people, who were just passing by, turned their heads and stopped to have a look at the finished work on the building. One woman remarked to her companion: “Oh I love what they did to the building”, admiring the bricks arranged to look like 35mm film on the newly built extension. 

This fresh addition to the building on the right side of the house was constructed to offer space to hang out before the films start. On Saturday night, it was buzzing with people enjoying snacks and refreshments and chatting about the interior of the cinema as well as the film Asteroid City. Everyone seemed to be very ecstatic and in a good mood, fully enjoying their night out at the Picture House.

“Asteroid City,” Wes Anderson’s latest output, an incredible  labyrinth of complex emotions and existential queries. Furthermore, the film delved into the most profound human experiences: death, grief, and the constant struggle of navigating life’s uncertainties. It confronted subjects like separation and abuse, which heightened the chaos and gave the narrative an unsettling edge. Loneliness was a recurring theme, reflecting a lost sense of control. The film also worked with the concept of extraterrestrial life, juxtaposing it with the characters’ alienation, thereby providing a double entendre. Additionally, this alienation was explored from multiple perspectives, introduced through a diverse cast of finely etched characters. Their performances were not just commendable but deeply moving, adding layers of depth to the narrative. In all, “Asteroid City” was a masterful exploration of life’s complexities, a poignant portrayal of the human condition.