- Title: RUSSIA-CINEMA/HOMELESS Cinema for homeless people opens in Moscow
- Date: 21st July 2015
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 19, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING FILM ON SCREEN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN MAKESHIFT CINEMA MAN SMILING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING FILM ON SCREEN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SMILING VOLUNTEERS GIVING OUT FOOD AS QUEUE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WALK PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ORGANISER, NATALIA MARKOVA, SAYING: "More than anything we have a dream to change attitude towards homeless people, because they are often abused and mistreated, and it is very hard for them to live. So, we decided to launch such a project all around Russia, which is called 'There is no difference'. We want to say that there is no difference between homeless people and us. And for this reason we worked out a series of events, we decided to start with the cinema. We have great plans, we want to organise a beauty salon for the homeless. Next Saturday we will play football." VARIOUS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEPING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ORGANISER, NATALIA MARKOVA, SAYING: "People forget that the homeless are also people, they have a soul, they need to dream, to think, to change their condition somehow. We decided that the cinema is a right (choice). We showed the film '1+1' as an experiment. Everyone liked it very much. But this time people voted for something more old, kind and Soviet, so we have chosen 'Shurik's Adventures', which we will enjoy today." VOLUNTEERS MANNING TABLES OUTSIDE MAKESHIFT CINEMA VARIOUS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE TALKING TO EACH OTHER WHILE THEY ARE EATING ELDERLY MAN DRINKING TEA VLADIMIR, A HOMELESS MAN IN MOSCOW WALKING PAST VOLUNTEER STALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HOMELESS PERSON IN MOSCOW, VLADIMIR, SAYING: "I have seen (the film) 'Operation Y' several times, but it will be interesting, because the last time I went to a cinema was a long time ago. Maybe around 20 years ago." VOLUNTEER HANDING OUT EGGS TO HOMELESS EGGS ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HOMELESS PERSON IN MOSCOW, LYUBA, SAYING: "They feed us and (give out) clothes, and medicine, the ambulance arrives every day and provides help for everyone, with high blood pressure, headache, stomach-ache and so on. It is clean and (the place) is in order. So far we live, but this is the only shelter for us." HOMELESS WOMAN EATING FOOT PERCHED ON TOP OF PLASTIC COVER OF BIN CLOSE OF FOOD VARIOUS OF ELDERLY WOMAN DRINKING TEA AT TABLE
- Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAA9ALPX2EYFU198H7RXBYQLBN3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The homeless population of Moscow were afforded a few moments of light hearted fun and no stress on Sunday (July 19) when they attended a free cinema showing and given access to free food.
The homeless left the streets for a few hours to come in touch with art, as a makeshift cinema opened its doors to them, located near a new welfare centre.
The cinema, which is a tent that can seat around 100, used a projector on a white screen to put on a popular film, encouraging homeless people from around the city to turn up and take advantage of the food and facility.
The homeless charity 'Friends on the Street' and the city administration are hoping to spread cheer among the city's homeless population with programmes and activities throughout the summer. Natalia Markova, one of the organisers of Sunday's free cinema, says the charity hopes to change people's attitudes toward the homeless.
"More than anything we have a dream to change attitude towards homeless people, because they are often abused and mistreated, and it is very hard for them to live. So, we decided to launch such a project all around Russia, which is called 'There is no difference'. We want to say that there is no difference between homeless people and us," said Markova.
Markova says the range of activities on offer will be varied.
"We worked out a series of events, we decided to start with the cinema. We have great plans, we want to organise a beauty salon for the homeless. Next Saturday we will play football."
The open cinema will operate twice a month, Markova says the initiative hopes to provide some comfort to the homeless.
"People forget that the homeless are also people, they have a soul, they need to dream, to think, to change their condition somehow. We decided that the cinema is a right (choice). We showed the film '1+1' as an experiment. Everyone liked it very much. But this time people voted for something more old, kind and Soviet, so we have chosen 'Shurik's Adventures', which we will enjoy today."
One of those who came to attend the day's activities was Vladimir - the homeless elderly man said he had lost his house in 1993 and had been struggling since.
Vladimir told Reuters TV that it had been a while since he last went to the cinema to enjoy a film.
"I have seen (the film) 'Operation Y' several times, but it will be interesting, because the last time I went to a cinema was a long time ago. Maybe around 20 years ago."
Lyuba, another homeless person at the makeshift cinema on Sunday said the charity's work was great assistance.
"They feed us and (give out) clothes, and medicine, the ambulance arrives every day and provides help for everyone, with high blood pressure, headache, stomach-ache and so on. It is clean and (the place) is in order. So far we live, but this is the only shelter for us."
The charity says it is able to help at least 500 homeless people every week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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