If you’re a movie fanatic and have a sweet spot for anything L.A., then beginning February 27th you can enjoy a night-in at Echo Park’s Echoplex for a showcase of films in which the city is as much as a protagonist as the actors that play in them.
The event is called “Monthly Monday Movie Night” and is presented by Unique LA, an independent group that provides showcasing spaces for emerging, artistic talent in the cities of Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Sonja Rasula and her sister, film editor Hilda Rasula, joined their love for film and the city of Los Angeles to curate a diverse and unique movie viewing experience where cocktail and beer specials, pizza, and sweet treats from local vendors create an amicable movie night ambiance. Free popcorn included.
“Chinatown” starring Jack Nicholson is the first film in the series and will be showcased on February 27th. The 1974 classic was inspired by the California Water Wars, which were a series of conflicts between the city of Los Angeles, farmers and ranchers in the Owens Valley of Eastern California, and environmentalists.
On March 12th, “Clueless” (1995) starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and the late Brittany Murphy will be screened, followed by “Friends with Money” on April 23rd, and “Kiss Me Deadly” on May 21st.
Considering the prominence of Hispanics in the Los Angeles area and the popularity of the Echoplex within the Latin Alternative community, Sonja assures us that depending on the success of the event, Latino flicks will be screened as well. “My sister and I grew up in Echo Park and both live there now, so while we happen to be of Chinese and Finnish heritage, Latin culture is part of our roots as well,” she states. A few of the Latin films they hope to screen are “Quinceañera”, “A Better Life” with Demian Bichir, the oldie-but-goodie “Stand and Deliver” as well as the documentaries “The Garden” and “Made in LA.”
Sonja and her crew are currently taking suggestions for movies to showcase during months from June to December. Feel free to pass your suggestions to the team. Tickets to “Monthly Monday Movie Night” are $10 pre-sale, online only and each showing starts at 8:00p.m. Doors open one hour before the show.
