Florence Gould Hall At FIAF

Florence Gould Hall is one of the spaces owned by the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF); unfortunately, it does no credit to its parent organization. Together with their so called Le Skyroom lounge (some floors above), the hall, which opened in 1988, is rented out to myriad groups. First you descend a too-​long flight of stars from the street to a too-​small lobby, then, if your event includes a reception, you climb up more steps to what amounts to a freight elevator to reach Le Skyroom whose garish wall and floor coverings seemingly invoke the ’70’s (and not in a good way!). Retracing one’s steps down to the Hall itself one must then take an additional escalator to finally reach the nondescript auditorium. The event we were invited to there this week (put on by a third party) was worthwhile, but the space itself was lacking.

Great auditorium in the Alliance Francaise with a good selection of French films with subtitles. I’ve been coming there over the past couple years for the In French With English Subtitles film festival and have never been disappointed. Theater is large, modern and comfortable.

Modern, attractive, sizeable auditorium showing often-​FREE French films with subtitles. Gotta get there early in the day to get free tix and later in the evening, to get good seats, as it fills up.