For the first time in a long time, there were a whole bunch of people in the Egyptian last night.
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  • When this movie theater closed suddenly in June 2013, its future was uncertain.

Last night was the Egyptian's soft opening (yay!!), and a whole bunch of soft people crammed themselves in there to see Lynn Shelton's latest movie Laggies, starring Keira Knightley. I don't want to say too much about Laggies since it's not out yet, but quickly: It's really good, it's better than Shelton's last movie, Seattle looks as gorgeous as ever, Ben Gibbard's score is fantastic, Amy Thone has a small role in it, and there's a very funny scene involving fingerbanging. Oh yeah, and Keira Knightley and Sam Rockwell are great. Laggies played just once last night to kick off SIFF's Women in Cinema series, which continues all weekend at the Uptown. (Laggies opens in 300 theaters around the country on October 24.)

Before and after the movie, I asked a bunch of people—some people I knew, some strangers—how it felt to be back inside the Egyptian.

Lovely. I havent been here in... God, a long time. I liked being in the balcony. It seems weird when places like this are gone. I feel like Seattles folding in on itself. So its nice when things come back.
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  • "Awesome. Lovely. I haven't been here in... God, a long time. I liked being in the balcony. It seems weird when places like this are gone. I feel like Seattle's folding in on itself. So it's nice when things come back."

Awesome. I love this theater. The air conditioning is not working very well. (SIFF knows and is on it.)
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  • "Awesome. I love this theater. The air conditioning is not working very well."*

[I forgot to write down what he said because I was so focused on his tattoos. He works the concessions counter.]
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  • [I forgot to write down what he said because I was focused on his tattoos. He works concessions.]

Its like being at home. Its like coming home. I had the pleasure of running this place in the 90s. I spent four of the best years of my life in this building.
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  • "It's like being at home. It's like coming home. I had the pleasure of running this place in the 90s. I spent four of the best years of my life in this building."

I agree its like coming home, SIFF managing director Mary Bacarella said. The crew that we have here is unbelievable.
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  • "I agree it's like coming home. The crew that we have here is unbelievable."

The last time I was here was when I saw Ralph Nader.
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  • "The last time I was here was when I saw Ralph Nader."

Do you want a bonus photo of Lynn Shelton and Maria Semple in the lobby? Okay!

In my fantasy world, they were talking about Shelton directing the movie adaptation of Semples book Whered You Go, Bernadette, so I didnt want to interrupt with my dumb questions about the Egyptian.
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  • In my fantasy world, they were talking about Shelton directing the movie adaptation of Semple's book Where'd You Go, Bernadette, so I didn't want to interrupt.

The Egyptian's grand re-opening is October 3 through 5. And here's the first month of midnight movies.

* SIFF knows this and is on it.