Final Deckie Days
As the clouds in the Top End grow tall and dark, and the odds of getting drenched by a gooddownpour rise, opportunities to enjoy our favourite outdoor Dry seasons activities dwindle. One of those is catching a film at Deckchair Cinema.
By Tierney Seccull
Every night since April, cinematic gems have shone on the Deckie’s giant screen. This month, the iconic deck chairs are stacked, the ambient festoon lights come down, and the hard-working team ready themselves for a well-deserved break.
But not before a few more chances to enjoy the silver screen under the stars. And a few rain-filled clouds. General Manager James Parker says 2022 has been a good one.
“We’ve had an epic year. During the peak season, we had record numbers coming through the doors, and we’re on track to crack our highest annual record by the end of the year,” he says.
“We’ve had some incredible guests visit, and opened the season with the incredibly talented filmmaker Ivan Sen. The Deckchair really is an institution. Guests come and are surprised at the quality of the cinema and the quality of the screenings – they can’t wait to see their films on the big screen.”
2022 also saw the return of the Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF), presenting the first full program since 2019 with 11 sweet days of cinema, workshops, industry events, and the chance to celebrate the local film industry.
“DIFF was great. We had more special guests and more films, with screenings at the Waterfront, the Ski Club and in Palmerston. We engaged new DIFF audiences, especially families, through free public screenings. 7,000 people attended, and they really embraced it. That was really cool.”
With a handful of weeks left, there’s time to crack the annual record. Take a seat by the seaside, where there’s a chance you’ll enjoy a nice refreshing sprinkling, and soak up those precious final Deckie days.
On The Count Of Three
Closing out the 2022 Deckie season is this darkly comic flick about two best mates, Val and Kevin, on the last day of their lives. The thirty- somethings are uninspired in life, and decide the only way forward is to end it all, so they make a pact. With an exit plan all but finalised, a last minute bid for more time forces one to pull out in the final moment, leading the duo on a wild ride with ironic humour and commentary on the burden of mortality.
Closing Night Event
WHEN SAT 19 NOV | 7PM
AT DECKCHAIR CINEMA
COST $9-$39
INFO deckchaircinema.com
Thumbnail, header and inset (left): Photo: Nicholas Gouldhurst
