[tormeh]

Usually for laws like that the pitch is that there's some indirect benefit to the populace, like a healthier film industry which produces more quality films, keeping theaters open which allow you to continue to buy that huge screen/sound theater experience or heightening France's importance to foreign movie studios. That kind of thing. As for whether the tradeoffs are worth it... well, I'm pesimistic.

[michaelchisari]

French cinema is incredible and world-renown, and the theater is part of that cinematic culture. Culture is as important or more important than economy in France. The opportunity to make a billion dollars on one film is valued less than the opportunity to break even on something beautiful.

I can see clear advantages to that. Although there are disadvantages as well.

[ars]

That doesn't make any sense. How are you promoting culture by preventing people from experiencing it?

How are you helping the industry by restricting them from earning money?

[zardo]

To the first question, they consider the experience surrounding the theatre to be a part of the culture, not just the film. The second... you probably aren't.

[michaelchisari]

By giving theaters the right of way in terms of distribution.