Monster in Paris at the Institut Francais

Would we like to attend a special screening of Monster in Paris at Cine Lumiere? Why yes, of course we would, I replied, from the comfort of my sofa, when I received the email! The reality was a little different: take two tired children, one tired mother, one Granny who hadn’t been given any of the details about what we were doing, and the vagaries of the British Transport System and I’m amazed we arrived at all.

But we did, to be greeted by the smiliest accordion player I have ever seen, wearing a stripy t-shirt, beret and wafer-thin mustache. And lots of great coffee. And OMFG-are-they-chocolate-brownies? Yes, they were. From Maison Blanc no less. Can anybody say colour-me-happy-there’s-a-sofa-in-here-for-two? OK, I may have said that in my head. I may also have considered sending Granny and The Girls in to watch the film whilst I sat scoffing brownies and drinking coffee.

I resisted. Just. And we went in to watch the film in the plush surroundings of the Cine Lumiere. The seats were fabulously comfy, there was lots of leg room and, best of all, the room was populated by parents and small children, so no-one minded when Dimples made herself a bed in the aisle. And we really liked the bits of the film that we saw, between loo visits and ‘checking if any brownies were left’ (like mother, like daughter!)

Afterwards we enjoyed a great lunch at Carluccios and a cab back to the station: Dimples slept all the way home and I would suggest that maybe Granny did too, after she left us! The only disappointment were the lack of Maison Blanc treats to take home. But maybe Premier PR are saving that for next time? *Looks hopeful*

A Monster in Paris is out on Blu-ray/DVD from 4^th June.