A PDF copy of this review is available here
As a rule I do not write film reviews, partly because I am not very good at it, and partly because I believe that there are plenty of other people who can do it better and generally it just does not really interest me. But every so often there is a film where I will break that rule – one of the previous such films was “”. Today was probably about the second exception for a new film being released on 22nd June 2012 entitled “The Last Projectionist” a film by Thomas Lawes who owns the Electric Cinema in Birmingham.
As someone who actively keeps an eye on as much of the cinema exhibition industry and the specifically the projection/technical side of it as I can; this is a film I have been aware of ever since the trailer was released in 2011. So I was very honoured to be given the opportunity to watch a press preview version of the film; and in doing so learning the history of a historical cinema in the UK.
There is a bit of an irony to this though, which is that I watched the press screening, at home via the online site, Vimeo on an HD television – of a film which was about the demise of film!
The film is beautifully shot and orchestrated – much of which by Thomas himself, showing that this was very much a labour of love. It is without question a film which in a few years time will be used as both a historical timeline of one cinema – that of the Electric in Birmingham; along with a social comment on the development of Independent Cinema in the UK.
This is a documentary which for a change neither uses quick shot editing or narration to tell the story, but is gentle in its telling and camera movements; using long shots and a simple, but effect, interview technique. There is no silly gimmicks used, and for that I am thankful – yes there are animations, but they are used effectively and without annoyance – it is simply honest.
There is almost a story within a story going on – there is the recorded conversation amongst a number of projectionists, cinema owners and managers who have retired, which has been intercut with interviews from of the most influential independent cinemas in the UK. This film is actually not just about the end of an era from the point of view of projectionists and celluloid in the cinema, but a view of where the independent cinema exhibition sector is currently in the UK. In fact probably the one thing which is noticeable and missing from the film, as someone who knows the industry, was any sort of contribution from the multiplex companies such as Odeon, Cineworld or Vue, although I understand that an approach was made to at least one of them.
Looking at the IMDB plot entry, after writing the above paragraphs, I realise that the film matches it exactly – it is a case of a film which says exactly what it is on the tin, which is by no means a negative.
This is the first of, what I suspect are going to be a number of films which are going to look at the demise of the projectionist as we know them, if the number of requests I have seen are anything to go by. In fact, the industry has moved on somewhat even since parts of the film were shot – there was an estimate of 500,000 projectionist working across the world in the film, whereas now it is likely [in my opinion] to be a 10th of that at best.
This is a film that is worth watching by anyone who has been involved as a projectionist, as much of it will ring true. There is an irony about a film about the demise of the projectionist which is going to be distributed and probably shown without any projectionists involved! It is what many in the industry have suggested will be the advantage of digital projection – the ability for small budget films to be released to a wider audience.
There were elements missing, and some elements which would suggest the possibility of different title, but that is a minor complaint compared to what it did include.
I enjoyed this film enormously, I enjoyed what it was saying, how it was done, and how it was made. I like what it is going to become in years to come and what it stands for. Congratulations to Thomas Lawes for such a great film.
I recommend reading the production notes on the film as well.
IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1966607/
Website: http://www.thelastprojectionist.co.uk/