July 2001
Out of the house
Movies and singers go outside and play
When darkness falls and the moon rises over Munich in late July, fans of the great outdoors know where to head. Over the last seven years, Königsplatz has played host to a spectacular mixture of open-air film and music events, attracting crowds of over 10,000 each night. On the stately plaza stands the Neoclassical Propylaeum gateway and the monumental Glyptothek, home to one of the world’s finest collections of antique sculpture. Pin one of Europe’s largest screens to the magnificent backdrop and—poof—you have a setting worthy of one the finest feature films not even Steven Spielberg could have dreamt up!
Topping this year’s movie bill is the German premiere of BLOW, the latest offering from Johnny Depp, a film that tells the spellbinding tale of the rise and fall of a drug dealer. Flying in for the opening on July 20 is acclaimed young German actress, and the film’s costar, Franka Potente. Saturday, July 21, is “The Energy 93 Cult film” night. Join Munich’s hit radio listeners in voting for your favorite film and stand to win valuable prizes. Other feature films to be presented this year include: Sunday, July 22, Chocolat with Juliette Binoche and the ubiquitous Johnny Depp; Monday, July 23, What Women Want with Mel Gibson; Tuesday, July 24, The Mummy Returns with Brendan Fraser; Wednesday, July 25, Charlie’s Angels with Drew Barrymore and Thursday, July 26, Tomb Raider. Admission to each film costs DM 12, for lawn space behind the seating area, and DM 18, for chairs. Tickets are available at www.muenchenticket.de or on the night of the screening at kiosks around Königsplatz. Should it rain on one of the nights, the postponed film will be shown on either July 27 or 28. For further information, visit www.kinoopenair.de. Those away on holiday in July may be interested to know that the same films will also be shown in Stuttgart from August 10 to 18.
Though the projector will not roll before 10 pm, plenty of magical moments are guaranteed as soon as the event’s “gates” open, at 8 pm. Scheduled entertainers will help bridge the gap between dusk and darkness. Traditional beer garden-style fare and beer will be on sale. (Bear in mind that organizers are very thorough in confiscating any glass bottles that viewers try to “smuggle” into the square.) All the above makes for a true garden party-like atmosphere long before the flicks begin to dance over the 288-square-meter screen!
Königsplatz has also long been host to a season of open-air classic and pop concerts. Sadly, there will be considerably fewer this year compared to last year’s all-star line-up spearheaded by Elton John and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. With Munich’s open-air events acting as a magnet for locals and tourists alike, it is utterly disheartening that this premium outdoor venue in the heart of the city is being so short-changed this year. By the time this issue of MUNICH FOUND went to press, only two concerts had been officially confirmed for this year: Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, Richard Wagner’s opera Rienzi. It remains unconfirmed whether the likes of Tom Jones (August 31) and Jennifer Lopez (September 2) will grace the star-lit stage. Jones and Lopez fans should check with advance sales outlets before raising their hopes too high.
Thankfully it’s business as usual at other typical open-air locations around town this summer. When it comes to variety, the Brunnenhof Courtyard of the Residenz leads the way with an exciting season of events. Concerts include: Swing music (July 11), Cuban Night (July 17), Gospel Night (July 20) and Last Night of the Proms (July 22 and 27). In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Herkulessaal.
Further outdoor events will be staged in city parks. The Seebühne in Westpark will feature a number of concerts, including “From Baroque to Rock” (July 5) and “Oriental Magic” (July 12) as well as a number of movie screenings, including American Beauty and Erin Brokovich. Last but not least, Olympia Park will be the scene of the annual Tollwood music festival (until July 8). Highlights still to come include Fischer Z and The Stranglers (July 6) and George Benson (July 8). For a detailed list of events, see “What’s Up” in this issue. <<<
