03/19/2016
Miracle 5 - Tallahassee's one and only beloved arthouse theater for independent, foreign, documentary films, and the occasional odd cult classic. The afternoon matinees I spent alongside my roommate shaped my taste in film in the same way that Vinyl Fever expanded my horizons in my knowledge of music, as well as broadening my appreciation of cinema from a worldwide perspective. I was taking several film classes at TCC from a professor who inspired me to dig deeply into the filmmaking process and all the aspects involved in the process of what truly makes a film great, and the knowledge I gained from those courses were so crucial in deepening my appreciation into the filmic experience as a whole. And needless to say Miracle 5 played hand in hand with deepening that appreciation. I can't recall the number of late evenings Krishna and I would spend deeply debating the philosophical elements of film then breaking down its elements from both a technical and cultural perspective, which were among the most interested discussions I can recall during those years of my life. Miracle 5 was just one of those places in town that you expected to be around forever. Where else would you be able to catch a favorite at Cannes or Sundance, or a Godard or Gaspar Noe film on a random afternoon and come away feeling like you experienced something rewarding, like you were proud you had the chance to see it on the big screen?
Among the the many films I saw there that come to mind (in no particular order) were Gus Van Sant's Elephant, Spring Summer Autumn Winter & Spring, Palindrones, The Barbarian Invasions, Coffee & Ci******es, Paris J'taime, Darjeeling Limited, Fog of War, Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, Irreversible (Krishna and I were the only ones who didn't clear the theater during the 10 minute r**e scene), Lost in Translation, 28 Days Later (the film the sparked the digital vs. film debate between my roommate and I), Broken Flowers, Fantastic Mr. Fox, An Inconvient Truth, Closer, Notre Musique, and of course the infamous airing of Fahrenheit 911 during the height of the Iraq War conflict that drew sold out crowds and culminated in a large after-party in the parking lot complete with protesters and counter protesters, as well as a number of additional documentaries and many other films that unfortunately escape me right now.
In 2006 it was acquired by the massive Regal theater conglomerate, and for a while it was allowed to continue showing the same kinds of films that it had always been known for. (Quick note: I briefly worked there during that summer expecting to work my way up to the projection booth, but mostly ended up carrying a flashlight and transporting loads of paper towels for the dreaded after-hours popcorn machine cleaning).
Following the recession Regal closed a number of smaller theaters under its ownership, with Miracle 5 being among those. In 2012 the shopping complex which it resided was razed to make way for a Whole Foods. I reluctantly visited the store during its grand opening and couldn't help feeling overwhelmed when I came across the old the old marquee on display over the entrance to the cafe. Though I have gotten over my disdain for the establishment over the past year, I still often wonder while waiting at the register if I am standing over the same ground where I had once spent the numerous after-hours scrubbing days-old windex-soaked kernels off the windows of that damned popcorn machine (apologies to anyone who ever got sick from eating any leftover remnants).
Ultimately, Miracle 5 was an indispensable institution for true film lovers in Tallahassee, and its loss has left a void that has yet to be filled and probably will not be for a very long time.
