Movies are one of our great passions. Carolina and I are aspiring screenwriters and so our devouring of the great, good and awful on celluloid is chalked up to research.

Naturally our habits have changed since the arrival of the little man. Given that two teenagers daring to discuss Brad Pitt’s physique in hushed tones, or a cellphone accidentally left switched on, can turn reserved movie freaks into furious confrontational mobs, imagine the effect a squalling baby would have. We’d be lucky to make it out alive.

Resigned to our fate as ex-movie goers, imagine our delight (not to mention burning curiosity) on discovering that the Kirkland Colisseum has a baby and parent movie slot every Wednesday at 1pm. Determined to support both our habit and this noble gesture from the ruthless corporate world, we took in movie of the week, which happened to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

This was a whole new moviegoing experience. The cinema was more densely populated than any I’ve been to in midweek at lunchtime. The complex lowers the soundtrack volume and leaves lights on in the auditorium for ease of feeding and navigation.

Outside, it’s even more impressive. Dual changing tables (colour-coded pink and blue) are set up. They even provide free diapers and baby wipes. The icing on the cake is a microwave oven to warm milk or formula in. No infants were required to provide proof of age ID.

Jasper watched about half the movie and dozed off during the rest. Meanwhile, several of his peers expressed their dissatisfaction with the writing, acting or directing by bursting into tears. Parents of the most boisterous objectors removed them for the sake of everybody else’s viewing pleasure.

We loved the movie, loved Jasper’s reaction to the lights and sounds and colours and loved the foresight of the company for providing this service. I’ll never badmouth the price of popcorn again… maybe. Sleep well.

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