Last modified 15.3.2011 at 13:23

To see or not to see – that's not even a question

Text: Aleksi Ahlakorpi Photo: Milan Kolarovic

Do you want to see a movie but you don't want to spend any money? Well, there's nothing you can do. No wait, there is something: you can go to the movie club and see a movie for free!

Even if the auditorium can't be used, the school has many places to view films. (Even though they might not be as comfortable). In the picture are Yong Fu, Pi "Nancy" Shangyu, Woubshet Behutiye, Eija Junttila, Minna Pulla and Faisal Zia.

The School of Business and Information Management of Oulu University of Applied Sciences organises a movie club every other week. Minna Pulla, a second-year student of the Degree Programme in International Business explained more about the idea of the club:

– Finland is quite expensive country for foreigners and students might not have so much money to spend on their free time activities. That's why we wanted to organise something fun for free, and without alcohol. And what would be nicer than to get to see new movies free of charge!

Now open for business

The Movie Club begun in October 2008 but it had been planned already in the previous spring. Organisers are mostly tutor students from the School of Business and Information Management.

– Movie Club was first meant only for the exchange students and Finnish students studying in the Degree Programme, but quite soon we decided to open it for everyone in the School of Business and Information Management, Minna explains the brief history of the Club.

The idea of the Club is that every tutor will choose a movie they prefer and then bring it to the audience to be seen. That guarantees some variety for the movies shown in the Club.

– There has been comedy, drama and action. We have shown new movies like the 21, Sex and the City, Australia and Hancock just after their DVD-releases, Minna lists examples.

Movies shown in the Club are mostly spoken in English so the variety isn't as big as it could be. But there's a good reason for this. While Finnish audience is used to see movies in their original language with Finnish subtitles, this is not really a common custom in other European countries. Almost all over Europe movies are mostly dubbed into native language and have no subtitles.

– We thought about showing also Finnish movies like Joulutarina (Christmas story), but the language is a bit of a problem there. That's why we have been showing movies in English with English subtitles, Minna clarifies.

Good equipment, enjoyable experience

The Movie Club has been using school’s newly renovated auditorium to show the movies on a big screen with good sound system and with new and comfortable seats.

First year of the Movie Club was sort of an experiment to see if it really is a worthwhile idea. The Club has proven itself to be a good way to spend free time, so the tutors and other students of the School have plans to continue it also next year.

– Id' like to thank our School that has helped us by paying the expenses and also by giving a place for this, Minna praises. Next fall there will be new exchange students and fresh new tutors who will take over the Movie Club and continue to provide new movies for students who are looking for a good time. And of course, free of charge.