Save the Cinema

Save the Cinema is a 2022 British drama film written by Piers Ashworth and directed by Sara Sugarman, based on the true story of Liz Evans, a hairdresser and leader of a youth theatre in Carmarthen, Wales, who began a campaign in 1993 to save the Lyric cinema from closure. The film features mostly British talent, with principal roles led by Jonathan Pryce, Samantha Morton, Tom Felton, Adeel Akhtar and Susan Wokoma.

Liz Evans was the mother of Huw Evans, a Barrister, and his two younger brothers Wynne Evans, a principal of the Welsh National Opera who, since 2009, has appeared as a fictional Italian tenor called Gio Compario in the advertising campaign for GoCompare; and Mark Llewellyn Evans, a member of the English National Opera and founder of ABC of Opera. Wynne and Mark both appear in the film in cameo roles.

Plot
Liz Evans is a hairdresser and leader of a youth theatre in Carmarthen, Wales, who started a campaign in 1993 to save the Lyric cinema from closure. She and a local councilor will enlist the help of Steven Spielberg, securing a special premiere for Jurassic Park.

Production
Filming began in January 2021, under strict health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming took place around Carmarthenshire, Wales. Locations included the Lyric cinema, Ammanford town hall, and the towns Laugharne and Llandeilo.

Release
Save the Cinema was released in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2022. The film earned $12,864 from 40 cinemas in its opening weekend.

Reception
Save the Cinema has received a mixed response since its release, with many critics, particularly those in Wales pointing out the lack of Welsh talent and the accents that felt inauthentic and more like parody than real Welsh accents. An Article by Nation.Cymru called for more Welsh representation in Welsh cinema, citing Save the Cinema as a particularly poor effort.