We here at the Frida Cinema continue to barrel through March, dishing out the underappreciated, the forgotten from popular memory, and all the films loved by passionate cult audiences not only with our 21st Century Cult series but also with our (almost) midnight movie series, Frida After Dark. Adding to the theme is a sci-fi gem that tends to get overlooked: Cloud Atlas.
From the Wachowski sisters and Tom Tykwer comes a sci-fi epic that spans hundreds of years and frequently jumps around places and points in time as it weaves its enormous tale with a star-studded cast. The film follows an ensemble of protagonists from 1849 all the way to 2321, each with unique characters fighting their way out of situations that link together in the grander timeline. The film that heavily divided critics with its expansive story was chosen by no other than long-time volunteer Natalie Lyn Roberts!
How did you find out about The Frida Cinema?
I found out about The Frida Cinema because I was a volunteer at the LGBT Center. I came in one day and heard about volunteering, and I wanted to give back to my community more. I went on the Frida website and filled out a volunteer form, and since then, I’ve had a blast since your Frida team is amazing. Especially the Wednesday manager, [Martin Nguyen].
What made you want to volunteer here?
To give back my time, because I couldn’t have a job at that moment, and it gave me a sense of purpose. One day a week, it’s the highlight of my week because I get to see different aspects of customers and get the customer’s business, and I like dealing with customers. Customers are the highlight of my day. Making someone happy is key.
Tell us a little bit about Cloud Atlas.
I’ve seen it a couple times, good movie, but it’s my wife’s favorite movie, and I really want to have a date night with it, so that’s why I picked it, and she’s happier than pigs on crackers to be able to see it here because she loves the Frida. When our dog passed away, she would stay while I volunteered, and she loved the experience. She loved how peaceful it was and it gave her a positive connotation of this place. She’d also rather see older movies than newer movies because she loves it here.
What were your other choices for Volunteer Pick of the Month?
My other choices were Broken Arrow and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
What is your favorite Frida memory?
My favorite Frida memory is seeing people coming through the doors for the first time. When they have never been here before, I get to be the one who breaks it down for them and who says what we are, how we do stuff, and tells them all the exciting stuff we have for concessions. It’s fun to explain to people and get them all hyped up and excited for certain things, and that makes my day.
If you could program any movie here, what would you pick?
I would do a Bruce Willis Cage Fight, basically like we did for Nic Cage, where we team up Bruce Willis movies since he’s not acting anymore and there’s a lot of good flicks out there.
Cloud Atlas screens starting Monday, March 13th at The Frida Cinema.
Monday, Mar 13 – 7:30pm
Tuesday, Mar 14 – 7:30pm
Tickets