It is evident in the cultural landscape of many countries, that we are facing a decimation of diversity in favor of a more universal product in the film industry. While, for example, streaming services provide a great variety of features, the lack of curation and also lack of quality at times lead to the question of whether it is more about content and less so about the product itself. Theaters, especially smaller ones, have often taken on the production which would not fit within the mainstream cineplexes, sometimes accompanied by proper curation, and even small film festivals, providing a great opportunity for new perspectives and approaches. In his documentary, Lim Kah-wai (”Your Lovely Smile”) takes a look at “mini theaters”, small cinemas with often just one screen, their history and significance within Japan's cultural landscape and also their ways to survive in this new era of entertainment.
This Magic Moment is screening at Nippon Connection
During the course of filming “Your Lovely Smile”, the story of an indie director searching for theaters willing to screen his latest movie, Lim Kah-wai has caught a glimpse of the world of “mini theaters”. You would be mistaken to regard “This Magic Moment” as a mere monument to these institutions, as it becomes clear this is also a study about the state of cinema, of culture and, above all, the availability of it. During the course of the documentary, Lim follows a repetitive scheme, first introducing the theater in the context of its surrounding community and secondly, interviewing the owner(s) about the history of the cinema, their hardships and, most importantly, how they survive in the difficult media landscape of the present. It is both informative as well as enlightening, as we listen to stories of how to adapt to factors such as streaming and multiplex cinemas.
One interesting factor that Lim's documentary illustrates is how the availability of culture has become increasingly important. When he speaks to the former owner of a mini theater which has burned down, his interview partner talks about how she still receives messages and people stop her on the street, telling her how much they miss the cinema and what kind of experiences they had. Lim seems to suggest viewing cinema from a mere commercial standpoint does not suffice, considering the meaning it has for people of all ages and how decisive it can be when it confronts audiences with viewpoints that are different and perhaps even controversial. This idealism and view is what shines through in many of the interviews and images of “This Magic Moment”, resulting in a feeling somewhat melancholic for these places slowly disappearing from our cultural landscape, not just in Japan.
“This Magic Moment” is a documentary about the status of “mini theaters” in Japan, but touches upon important topics within the universal cultural landscape. Lim Kah-wai uses a very minimalist approach to talk about the availability of culture and views for people, as well as the role of cinema for the education and development of the next generations.
