33. The Cinema Travellers; movie review

THE CINEMA TRAVELLERS
Cert TBA
96 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

One should never underestimate the power of the cinema in India. Its popularity is such that its stars are feted like royalty.
But outside of the sprawling urban centres, the chances to watch movies have been reliant on travelling showmen setting up marquees.
Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya's documentary tells the story of a 70-year tradition of bringing film to the Indian countryside.
The directors tripped over the subject ten years ago and set out to understand the people behind the mobile talkies but, as it transpired, the proliferation of television, means they were probably recording its death knell.
The Cinema Travellers is, therefore, very much tinged with sadness - enthusiasts realising that the days of fulfilling their passion are nearing their end because it simply doesn't pay.
Indeed, the fact that the showmen are earning a pittance and sometimes going without food is a hand which is played hard.
And, on top of being defeated by the access to television even in the most remote villages in India, they are beset with increasingly unreliable equipment.
Time after time, we see audiences disappointed by delays or even last-minute cancellations because of projector failure or because prints have not turned up.
I felt a great empathy for the guys who were trying to keep a seven-decade tradition going but were failing to be able to feed their families.
I also admired the perseverance of the projector specialist who, in the halcyon days, had queues at his door but scarcely sees a customer nowadays.
And The Cinema Travellers offers the bonus of deep insight into the lifestyle of those in India's poverty-stricken countryside.
It is a pretty, poignant but also amusing movie which any cinema buff, like me, will devour like a fine meal.
It marks the end of an era and, therefore, is an important matter of record.

Reasons to watch: interesting behind the scenes look at how the movies spread to Indian villages
Reasons to avoid: it needs a narrative

Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Director quote - Amit Madheshiya: "The only way to bring this story out was through the language of cinema and not merely through text or photographs."

The big question - has mass media dented the romance of cinema?

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