Crowds turn out to honor Koch as his documentary opens

Large and emotional crowds turned out for the Ed Koch documentary "Koch" this weekend, an unexpected tribute of sorts with the film opening the same day as the former mayor's death.

"Koch" opened on Friday at two theaters in the city, the Angelika Film Center and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, and bigger-than-expected audiences led to multiple sellout shows at both locations.

"The audience was very good, very emotional for the showings this weekend," said Ewnetu Admassu, general manager at Lincoln Plaza.

"We had a Q&A with the film director (Neil Barsky), and people were very passionate about Koch. They seemed to like him a lot," Admassu said, adding that about a third of this weekend's shows were sold out and the others were "very well attended."

At the Angelika, house manager Gideon Saroufiem said the crowds were large and deferential toward Koch.

"He was a frequent patron of the Angelika, and I think in a way it was kind of appropriate the way it all played out," Saroufiem said. "He was a true cinephile, he loved film, so what better way to honor his memory than having a film of him come out the day he passed," Saroufiem said, adding that about two-thirds of showings this weekend sold out.

"People just wanted to pay tribute to Koch," Saroufiem said. "And this was a very honest way of honoring and remembering him."