The Dying of the Light

The projectionist is the last link in the long chain of filmmaking – the operator in the booth was also involved with such everyday things as sticky tape and a toothbrush to clean the sprockets. The hand that not long ago turned the focus wheel is now as invisible as the Wizard of Oz: “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.”
The craft of projectionist, which remained virtually the same for a hundred years, actually no longer exists since the recent digitalisation. The projectionists who speak up in this affectionate documentary think back on rewinding the miles of film as it slid through their fingers in the projection booth – a place that was for many of them home. Many protectionists were also surreptitious collectors; every film was very briefly in the possession of the projectionist until he passed it on to us. Film introduced by a video essay by Mariska Graveland.

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