Little by little, sanitary restrictions are being relaxed so that various sectors can resume their activity and reopen their businesses. However, for some in whose spaces security is practically guaranteed, the current measures may be decisive and put an end to their work.
The Drive in de Dénia drive-in was one of the first spaces in the country where contact with culture was retaken in the de-escalation in May. It was not only a point where they could once again enjoy the seventh art, but it gave way for music groups, belonging to one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic, to perform again in front of an audience.
People responded well to the offer, as it is a place where we feel safe. Each one locked in their vehicle with hardly any contact with anyone outside the circle, something that you can get in few places. Now, when at the end of 2020 it was decided to bet on such a restrictive curfew in the Valencian Community, an inevitable countdown began until the closure of that cultural refuge.
This type of business has the particularity of being very dependent on the hours of sun, or, rather, the hours of no sun. Being outdoors, the projections require darkness to be enjoyed, so their programming adapts to that schedule.
Now, every time the sun goes down later, so they have to delay the session and without much margin since at 22:00 everyone has to be at home. In addition, the traditional offer of double sessions, which gives the drive-in an advantage to compete against multiplexes, cannot be carried out since there is no time to make so many projections, therefore the attractiveness of a business that has water at its neck in all Spain it is reduced.
It is for this reason that the drive-in has asked the Generalitat, together with its association, to create a cultural passport that allows its viewers to return to their homes once their films are finished, even if the curfew has started.
The change of schedule this weekend makes this measure more urgent than ever since they could not start the screenings until 20:30 and the play begins at 22:00. That is, it is totally unfeasible.
If this defendant passport is not obtained, the drive-in announces that this will be the last week in which they carry out their activity. "The first movie theater to reopen on May 14 and one of the few that has not closed again during the crisis will be forced to close due to the time change".
