DistantNews
Support us
Argentine village cinema, a restored relic, becomes a community hub
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Argentine village cinema, a restored relic, becomes a community hub

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A restored 1930s rural cinema in Roque Pérez, Argentina, now serves as a community hub, screening short films and hosting events.
  • The Cine Club Colón, once abandoned, was revived in 2013 and is now the only functioning rural cinema in Buenos Aires province.
  • The town also features other historical restorations, including Perón's birthplace museum and a nature reserve, preserving its heritage.

In the rural setting of Roque Pérez, Argentina, the Cine Club Colón stands as a testament to preservation and community spirit. Located 135 km from the capital, this 1930s cinema in La Paz Chica has been meticulously restored, its facade now proudly displaying a sign that has endured since 1934.

Inside, the cinema offers a journey back in time with its original seating and screen. The restoration, completed in 2013, transformed the space from a derelict state, choked by decades of neglect, into a vibrant community center. It now hosts adult education classes, religious gatherings, and screenings, primarily featuring a short film about the cinema's own revival.

Roque Pérez itself is a town that cherishes its history. Alongside the cinema, visitors can explore the restored train station, now the Bicentennial Venue, and the house museum where Juan Domingo Perón was born. The town also boasts a historical interpretation center and the Laguna de Ratto ecological reserve.

Daiana Márquez, Roque Pérez's director of tourism, highlights the cinema's unique status as the only functioning rural cinema in Buenos Aires province. Open on weekends and holidays, it offers simple refreshments and a local artisanal vermouth, continuing the legacy of its founder, Italian immigrant Jerónimo Coltrinari.

It is the only functioning rural cinema in the province of Buenos Aires.

— Daiana MárquezDaiana Márquez, director of tourism for Roque Pérez, describes the unique status of the Cine Club Colón.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog