The Dying of the Light

The Dying of the Light (2015) is a documentary written and directed by Peter Flynn. The movie gives us many interviews with professional projectionists who have worked with 35 mm movie film.

Some of the projectionists are retired, and some are still working at theaters that have the capability of projecting 35 mm film. However, as the title suggests, movies shown on film are going the way of the steam locomotive.

The movie is full of nostalgia. These people spent years learning how to project 35 mm film, and now their knowledge is of little or no use. The reality is that--in one throwaway line--one of the projectionists admits that most people can't tell the difference between the appearance of 35 mm and digital projection. So, as hard as it is to watch the loss of the old technology, we have to accept this and move on.

We saw this movie as part of the excellent Rochester Labor Film Series. It was shown at the wonderful Dryden Theatre in the George Eastman Museum. The Dryden is a theater that routinely shows 35 mm film. Ironically, this film was shot in digital format, and therefore it was projected digitally.

This film traces the full history of motion pictures (even "lantern" shows) and describes the ways technology, public preferences and entrepreneurial spirit have changed over the last two centuries, placing the newest way of viewing stories on screen (namely digital projection) into a clear context. Much of the film's commentary is provided by film projectionists, ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s, mostly men, but definitely not all!! We "tour" several derelict theatres and drive-ins, often with a projectionist who worked there. However, most of the theatres are still in operation, and the projectionists turn out to be engaging hosts, and explain pretty well their responsibilities while largely being unseen, and how committed they were to "doing a good job". As you would expect, there are quite a few sad edges to these reminiscences. The overall tone, however, is very relaxed and informative, especially if you have ever projected humble 16mm films (as I have done to Science classes many years ago), or take the opportunity to look into projection rooms whenever the rare opportunity arises. This film was screened on "Art House Theatre Day" and I saw it in the best known art-house theatre in Melbourne, which screens in 35mm, 70mm and up to 4K digital.

Remarkably comprehensive history of morion picture projection with experts and the machines they've preserves over the years. From Kinetoscope and earlier to the film projectors that were replaced by digital.