A DEAF teen’s disappointment over a botched showing of Star Wars has turned to joy after the cinema promised to make amends.
The youngster had booked for one of Vue Cinema’s special subtitled showings of The Last Jedi, and had an e-ticket that confirmed this arrangement. But when the movie started there were no subtitles.
Her friend queried this with the Reading cinema staff who are alleged to have told them that Star Wars had been such a box office smash that the captions were removed.
But thanks to The Wokingham Paper’s involvement, the cinema has been in touch with the teenager’s family to arrange a special captioned screening.
The Wokingham teenager’s mother – who wanted to remain anonymous – said: “Our daughter and her friend are profoundly deaf. They really wanted to see The Last Jedi, and were excited that Vue were doing a subtitled showing.
“We booked tickets well in advance – as I expect did other members of the local deaf community. This is great because without the subtitles they can’t access films.
“Imagine the girls’ disappointment then, when there were no subtitles in sight. My friend quickly got up out of her seat and went and spoke to a member of staff, who explained ‘Star Wars has been popular so we changed it’.”
The mother said that her daughter wanted to see the film so much that she stayed, even though she couldn’t hear the dialogue. Her friend went home.
“We are deeply shocked at what this incident seems to say about Vue’s attitude to accessible showings and the needs of people with disabilities.
“This suggests an utterly tokenistic attitude to the needs of disabled people which is totally out of step with society today.”
However, Vue has promised to fix the situation.
A spokesperson for the cinema, in The Oracle shopping centre, said: “‘We sincerely apologise for any disappointment caused to the teenager and her party as result of the confusion over this screening.
“Vue are committed to delivering subtitled screenings of the latest releases in all of our venues nationwide – offering an average of two per week as well as monthly subtitled Mini Mornings sessions for younger guests.
“We also offer Audio Description on a select number of films per week.
“We’d like to invite her back to our Reading venue at a time that suits her, when it will be our pleasure to host her at a subtitled screening of Star Wars The Last Jedi so that she can enjoy the latest instalment in this blockbusting trilogy.”
