Film buff Bastien Girardet, creator of the Instagram account @lecoin_popcorn, spoke to La Famille Maritima. The 7th art has a new ambassador in Bouches-du-Rhône. Originally from Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, who attended the Arthur Rimbaud high school in Istres and born in Martigues, Bastien Girardet embodies this passionate and creative Provençal youth. Guest on the show La Famille Maritima, he talked about the creation of his Instagram account, @lecoin_popcorn, which has become a reference for fans of cinemas in the region.
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From Coluche to Instagram: the birth of a local passion
For Bastien, it all started with a need to escape. Arriving in Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, he found his refuge at the Le Coluche cinema in Istres. It is there, between two screenings, that he forges his cinematic culture, but it is the confinement of 2020 which will serve as the trigger.
“Cinema is still a means of escape, something that takes us away from where we are. HAS”
The digital adventure began in July 2020. First in the form of simple notes scribbled in a notebook, its reviews quickly migrated to Instagram. If the beginnings were artisanal, Bastien was able to evolve his aesthetic to today offer neat carousels which resemble real cinematic travel diaries.
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Defend French cinema and commitment
Far from the American blockbusters which sometimes monopolize the screens, Bastien uses @lecoin_popcorn to defend a certain idea of cinema, closer to our roots. He takes a particularly keen look at French comedy, which he often judges to be unloved by traditional critics.
“I have enormous affection for French cinema and French comedy, which nevertheless has a hard time with the public in general. HAS”
He also does not hesitate to highlight committed films, citing works such as Les Rayons et les Ombres or Nuremberg, recalling that cinema is an essential tool for memory and political reflection. He shares this passion with his family, notably with his twin brother, a student at AIS Marseille (doors school open on Saturday April 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
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Confidences: a criticism of “feeling” and popcorn
How does a cinema influencer work? Bastien entrusted the Maritima team with his working method. No notebook in the middle of the session so as not to break the magic, but intensive use of the Letterboxd application from the end credits.
“As soon as I leave, I rush to write down two or three little ideas or even write the entire critique, a little quickly. HAS”
Its particularity? An original rating system: it does not award stars, but “packets of popcorn” (from 1 to 5). A fun and friendly touch that fits perfectly with the spirit of La Famille Maritima. Whether it is the Arthouse cinema at the La Cascade cinema in Martigues or the large complexes, Bastien continues to explore the territory to feed his passion.
Be sure to follow his upcoming reviews and discover his unique take on the week’s releases.
📸 Follow @lecoin_popcorn on Instagram
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