The camera enters a movie theater being used as a temporary refuge after a storm. The audience is central in the frame, scattered on the floor, on the rows, and some even on the stage. The soft glow from a lone projector provides the only source of light, casting a multicolored palette on grim, worried faces, painting an intimate and surreal atmosphere. It’s juxtaposed by the ominous, deep shadows, on the outskirts of light, enhancing the depth.
An elderly, kindly looking man with a clean suit is wound up in an old film reel, fumbling in clumsy, yet determined actions – the moment is balanced with a sense of sadness and determination. Notice the focus on the man’s face in a close-up shot – a wrinkle-filled canvas of emotions. The rest of the hall is blurry, only hinting at the dire situation outside, reflecting the viewer’s perspective.
The perspective abruptly changes to an overhead shot, revealing the theater in all its details – the wasted popcorn boxes, drink spills, and weariness of the crowd. The last part of the scene is a slow panning shot of the crowd, their eyes filled with anticipation and hope, anxiously waiting for what film the old man offers – their escape from the reality outside, if just for a couple of hours.