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Sad, sad, sad. Turns out, even in these turbulent times it’s possible to receive a piece of news shocking enough to make you forget about prices that grow by the day, leaving your salary well behind.

One of Kyiv’s historical cinemas, Kinopanorama, was sold to a private company, which will turn it into an office building. Naturally, its location right in the center on the quiet Shota Rustaveli street was too tempting to be ignored. But while it will surely bring joy to its new owners, to many Kyivans it means an end of an era.

I cannot call Kinopanorama one of my very favorite theaters. It didn't provide any proper modern conveniences, since it was upgraded very little since Soviet times. Its ancient seats were rigid, its cashiers had no computers and used sheets of paper to show you a choice of available seats. At the bar you could only get popcorn in plastic bags. But, at the same time, it was a real piece of living history. Besides, it was one of few theaters in the capital stubbornly showing art-house movies in the original languages, including English, while all the cool new multiplexes avoid those, considering them too unprofitable. And despite the rigid seats I frequently stopped by at Kinopanorama to see one of those worthy films. Of course, it’s not hard to guess that with its intellectual selection of films and cheap tickets, the theater couldn’t be profitable. Since it was a municipal property, the Kyiv City Council chose to sell the plot of land the theater stands on for Hr 7 million.

Not long ago another historical cinema – Zhovten (opened in 1930) – was also under threat of being closed. But its administration has put up a fierce fight to save it, offering more and more attractions to its viewers. Kyiv City Council’s Culture Committee drew up a list last August of municipal theaters coming up for sale, including Bratislava, Leipzig, Leningrad, Rossiya, Shevchenko Cinema, Kyiv Rus, Florentsiya, Ekran, Zhovten and Haharin Cinema. Some of those cinemas like Florentsiya, Leningrad and Kyiv Rus are very popular among the inhabitants of the nearby districts. If they were to close, local residents would have to make much longer trips to other theaters, with more expensive tickets, or forget about cinema altogether. Zhovten, on the other hand, is a unique place because it screens mainstream films as well as art-house movies, but also it holds festivals in its many halls. It’s a popular hangout for Podil residents and students, as well as anyone who appreciates its atmosphere – a mix of modern and vintage. We can only wonder how many municipal cinemas will go down the drain like Kinopanorama. While the mayor and his deputies keep proclaiming how much they plan to do for Kyivans, the city is quickly losing its face as a cultural capital. Kinopanorama continues showing its films so far, and its administration hopes for the best. Well, good luck to them.