While this may be a slightly old subject, I would like to bring this incident to your attention.

I fully agree with many of the people who have written about how annoying it is when people use their mobile phones while one is trying to enjoy a film at the cinema.

So I suppose you could say I was very glad to hear that both Eden Century and Embassy Cinemas had stated that if any of their patrons had a problem with this issue, they could complain to an usher or manager and the situation would be dealt with appropriately.

Until one day recently. I met with friends to watch the film Guess Who at the Embassy Cinema in Valletta. The services at the concession stand were quick and friendly. We entered the auditorium and began watching the film, which was quite enjoyable.

All of a sudden, we heard someone talking loudly on a mobile phone.

Was it part of the film? No. The language being spoken was Maltese. Not only did we discover it was from the row in front of us, but it was also one of the ushers using his mobile phone, talking loudly during the film. We went to get a manager to sort out this problem.

The manager was in his office, with two other staff members. When I told him about this problem – fair enough, he did send someone to sort out the problem.

What is it about the attitude of certain individuals who seem to take it upon themselves to give an establishment a bad name? I thoroughly enjoy visiting Embassy Cinemas, and after all the fuss that has been made recently I would not expect such careless behaviour from members of the staff, especially in a cinema that has always had a genuine, friendly and hospitable atmosphere.

I hope there is some “higher order”/management/owner who can sort this problem out once and for all – after all, if staff members cannot give an example of respectable behaviour, why should the general public behave at all?

Mark Said

Luqa