'Machine Gun' Preacher Opens at Picture House

Echoes from the lobby poured into the theater as the small crowd waited for the screening of "Machine Gun Preacher" to open Wednesday night.

Steve Reich, who has been a member of the Pelham Picture House for about eight months, came in from Riverdale to watch the film. For him, the few extra miles are worth the gas. He prefers this small one-theater to a multiplex for a variety of reasons.

“Multiplex is impersonal,” Reich said. “I think that people who come here really want to see movies.”

Part of the real desire to see movies, according to Reich, includes not checking cell phones during movies and definitely not bringing babies to the movie. He recalls seeing a Twilight movie at the Pelham Picture House. “Yup, no babies.”

In fact, as Ilya Tovbis, the director of film programming, walked onto the newly built stage at the front of the theater, his reminder to turn off all cell phones seemed unnecessary. Throughout the whole movie, there wasn’t a single flash of a cell phone opening or a even a beep from a text message.

This was all to the benefit of the audience, who were engrossed in Machine Gun Preacher. The film, based on a true story, is about Sam Childers, a former biker-gang member who decides that it’s time to make a change. The ensuing tale is a passionate discovery of his faith and a rediscovery of his anger, this time directed against the tribulations of children in Sudan.

The film, at its best, captures the contrast of life in Pennsylvania, United States, where not getting a limousine to go to formal is considered hardship, and life in Sudan, where food is hard to come by and children are orphaned by the dozen.

Contrast is also what defines the Pelham Picture House after its recent renovations. Sitting in the theater, one can hear the distant sound of the film reel spinning away and see the building’s original brick run through the renovations. At the same time, the chairs are all modern and comfortable, the bathrooms completely redone, and a brand new stage was built at the front to allow for guest-lecturers and stars to come for events and screenings.

Arnie D’Alessio, of Eastchester, was stunned by the extent of the renovations.

“What major improvements, wow,” D’Alessio said. “They did a beautiful job.”

D’Alessio also liked the atmosphere.

“I like how they left the old and mixed it with the new,” he said.

Kevin Losani, theater manager for Pelham Picture House for the past two years, said the Pelham Picture House’s mission was to educate people through film. While usually stars from the films come in to speak after a screening, Wednesday night it was indieWIRE film critic Caryn James.

Losani said, “I think every movie has something to say. Good or bad movie, there’s a message in everything. Examining that is nice and more thought-provoking, and then you’re leaving with something, you know maybe more knowledge on whatever film that may encompass.”