Walking through Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s main square, it is impossible to miss the gigantic screen looking over the hundreds of seats in front of it.

Sotto le Stelle del Cinema is a Bologna institution, and it is taking place for the 26th summer in a row, Covid 19 be damned. I have loved Film from a young age, and eventually spent 3 years of my life studying for a degree in Film Studies. I then had a few years where I didn’t watch nearly as much as I should have, but that changed when I moved to London. I decided to get a monthly cinema pass, meaning I could watch all of the new releases, as soon as they came out.

Naturally, I was intrigued by the list of films in front of me on Piazza Maggiore, and to my delight, I saw there were a few English options. I had feared that they would be dubbed into Italian, but that was not the case, and Italian subtitles are provided for the local crowd. My eyes were drawn to the 1980’s classic The Blues Brothers, and as soon as we could book tickets, I logged in, created an account, and got us two tickets near the front.

The Cineteca di Bologna website is relatively easy to navigate, and every film has a number of free tickets available, with the more ‘premium’ seats near the front, available for a cost. I believe tickets are made available 7 days before each screening date, and when I logged in, there were plenty of options. I was also able to order two tickets, so you don’t need to set up an account for every person that wishes to attend.

There are of course still coronavirus worries throughout the world, and Italy is no exception. Social distancing is adhered to with the seating, and you won’t be sat next to any strangers. The cinema is also surrounded by barriers, with an efficient entry system, and you do feel safe under the stars in Piazza Maggiore.

The cinema screen is incredibly impressive, rivalling those you would find in any popular traditional cinema. I have seen some drive-thru cinemas being created back in the UK, where you have to pay a significant price, and this looks much grander. The sound as well warrants a mention. There are the main speakers at the front and back, as well as smaller speakers placed on the side. I knew we were dealing with some serious equipment, when during a Blues Brothers gun fight, everyone sat in our section turned to the left, as it sounded like they were coming from that direction! Thankfully for us, they weren’t.

Now on the film itself, and what a perfect choice! The Blues Brothers is an absolute riot from start to finish, and the aforementioned speakers really added to the wonderful music that features throughout. In fact, at the culmination of some of the songs, spontaneous applause broke out from the crowd, as it sounded that good.

Myself and my other half loved the experience, and judging by the reaction at the end, so did the people from Bologna. The films chosen to be screened are a mix of old and new, classic and cult favourites, and without sounding clichéd, there really should be something for everyone.

I love this Bologna tradition, and applaud everyone involved in the set-up and creation. It was executed incredibly well, and this is the type of thing that should feature in cities throughout the world. To sit in the iconic Piazza Maggiore, with the church and the stars looking down on you, it really was a brilliant experience.