Fighting Strangers in the Alps: Big Lebowski Screening Closes the Hygienic Art Outdoor Movie Series

Perhaps the only thing more entertaining than the Coen brothers’ cult classic The Big Lebowski is its cult following. This was manifested at Hygienic Art’s showing of the film September 15 at their outdoor venue on Bank Street in New London.

The event drew many diehard fans, a few of which made sure they were dressed for the occasion in appropriate Lebowski attire: shorts, sandals, a bathrobe and sunglasses. Upon passing through the wrought iron gates that mark the entrance to the friendly patio style venue, one could immediately feel the energy of this especially eclectic group of people.

At one table under the strings of hanging lights which stretched over the patio, sat a couple sipping wine, while at another table, sat three young men vocalizing their dismay at the absence of White Russians. “We had heard rumors that they would be available,” said one. “I probably should have brought some from home.”

When asked how big of fans they felt themselves to be, one admitted to never having seen it. “I’ve heard a lot about it,” he said, to which his friend to his right said, “I don’t even know why I am sitting next to you right now.”

There was another man in a bathrobe and Lebowski t-shirt which he had just purchased in Greenwich Village the day before. “We went to a store about the movie. The Little Lebowski.  That’s where I got this t-shirt and the man there told me about this event.”

It might come as a surprise that he claimed to have only seen it once, but “I feel as though I need to go watch it thirty times,” he said. “The only issue is that there are no White Russians. I though about putting some in a thermos, but I thought they would have them.”

Perhaps the most interesting character of the night was an older man who had with him a Siamese cat at the end of a leash. “Who couldn’t love the Dude and how he approaches every disaster.”  said the man who says he has seen the movie half a dozen or so times.

“The cat comes to every event here. He writes very good reviews of the shows too. He has a Facebook page where he writes them,” he mentioned, as people made a small line to pet the very outgoing cat.

Another man told of how The Big Lebowski is the ultimate college flick. “You should be having White Russian parties in your dorms all the time” he said.

The Hygienic Park itself is nothing short of extraordinary in what it does for art in the New London area. Rich Martin, the owner, talked of how the venue was created. About twelve years ago the building was going to be torn down for a parking lot,  and he and a group of others saved it, turning it into a center for the arts. It has both an outdoor and indoor performance venue, while it also has space for art exhibits and studios that local artists can apply for. For about three years now they have been running films on Wednesday nights. They also have music events, puppet shows and poetry readings.

The Big Lebowski marked the close of the season, but Martin was excited about bringing the park to the attention of students at Conn. “Get down here sometime and check out an event. We’re not about censorship here, so people can do what they want to do.” Although the events are over for the season, the art exhibits are open year round.

For more information, one can go to hygienic.ning.com or take the five minute drive into New London and visit it directly at 83 Bank Street.