Mike and Gerry remake film history from Be Kind Rewind, a New Jersey VHS store two months away from its demolition, when the inventory of tapes is erased. A story of amateurism and enthusiasm from Michel Gondry.
Video stores are a culture in decline, and in two months, another one is doomed to demolition, Passaic, New Jersey’s very own Be Kind Rewind. As if that wasn’t bad enough, due to a freak accident, all the tapes there were recently erased. What is to be done when someone now wants to rent a film? Other people would simply give up and succumb to misery, but not Mike and Jerry – they have an answer that is as simple as it is crazy: remake it! And so begins an unexpected new chapter in the life of Be Kind Rewind, from a mere place for video rentals to a production facility where the customer’s dream versions of their favourite movies become true – because everybody prefers home-crafted to factory-made, right? A reverie about community life and the unique glory of all art made imperfectly. A film for the ages, as the contradiction between professional and amateur, administration and passion, won’t dissolve any time soon.
– Olaf Möller
Film details
- Countries of production
- USA, France, UK
- Year
- 2008
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2025
- Length
- 102"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
