Fired up for a new generation at movies

After being closed for 11 years, Village Cinema is making a comeback, stirring up fond memories and sparking excitement among community members. This past weekend, during the saʔtitkʷ (River) Artist Celebration, we offered special pre-renovation theater tours, and I witnessed a touching moment that speaks volumes about the community’s connection to the theater.

James and Cassandra, both in their early 20s, were volunteering to help move old seat parts when they stumbled upon a nostalgic memory. As we worked, I pointed out that while there isn’t a bad seat in the house, one back row featured narrower seats compared to the wider ones in the rest of the theater.

I mentioned how narrow the seats felt when I sat in one, and encouraged James to try it out. We laughed when he agreed with me. Then his wife, Cassandra, told him to get up and sat down in the seat herself.

She said, “This is my seat.” At first, we thought she was joking, but then she explained, “No, this is the seat I would always sit in when I came here as a little kid.”

With the theater having been closed for over a decade, Cassandra’s emotional connection to the cinema was a reminder of how much it meant to many in the community, particularly those who grew up attending.

Later in the day, I saw six local teenagers standing outside the theater’s open front doors, looking in with curiosity. One waved at me, and I waved them inside.

They walked in slowly, clearly unsure of what to expect. One asked, “Is this an arcade?” I explained that we have six retro games available. Another peered into the auditorium and asked, “Is this a theater?” When I said yes, they lit up.

As they walked out, one of them said, “Cool! A NEW theater!”

That’s when it hit me — this theater has been closed for so long that an entire generation of local kids has never stepped inside, never watched a movie here, never even known what this place is. It made me feel a little sad, but it also fired up my motivation even more.

I’m truly humbled and honored to be the one bringing Village Cinema back to life, and I promise to you, the Coulee community, that Village Cinema will never close again.

As we work towards the grand reopening, I can’t wait to welcome everyone back—whether you have memories of this place or you’re stepping inside for the first time.

And we’ll see you ALL at the movies!

Larry Hernandez

Owner of

Village Cinema