Today I needed cinema. I needed that dark room, the huge silver screen and to be told a story I hadn't heard before.
The storyteller was Steven Spielberg with his semi-autobiographical love letter to cinema. Loosely based on his early years as a filmmaker, but also a coming-of-age film and the trials of growing up in a complicated family. Dedicated to the memory of his parents.
I've seen three films recently, which have been love letters to cinema. Empire of Light by Sam Mendes (which I really liked, see my review: https://moviescoffeerunning.wixsite.com/moviescoffeerunning/post/empire-of-loveliness), Babylon (I'm still undecided) and 'The Fablemans'. Spielberg's is my favourite.
The story focuses on Sam Fabelman and his family. After seeing a film called 'The Greatest Show on Earth' with his parents, he's entranced by a train scene. This ends up with him asking for a train set for Hanukkah, after being obsessed with crashing said trains, his mother suggests he films the crash and so begins filmmaking for Sam. It follows him through a new school, teenage years and more and more filmmaking.
I was completely enchanted the whole way through, didn't notice the 2hr 31 run time and was disappointed it finished, I could have watched more!
I loved the scenes when he is making films with his friends in the boy scout troop. The creative approaches and stunning results were really awe inspiring. Basically, if I'd have been given a film camera when I was little, that would have been me. When I finally get a new video camera I'll be back making films again. Watch this space!
I arrived at the cinema today all stressed and harried, but I emerged from the cinema calm, energised and inspired. Complete with many ideas about what film I'd like to make next. Lights, camera.... action! Time spent in the cinema with Spielberg is always time well spent.
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