AFF Review: The Rep
Chances are if you're reading this, it's because you love film. Whether it's Texas-centric films, or the occassional Hollywood blockbuster that you enjoy reading a review about, it doesn't matter. Either way, you're here and you're here because you love movies. The Rep understands that love, and the documentary focuses on three people who were willing to risk their livelihood to share that love with the people in their hometown in Canada. Alex Woodside, Charlie Lawton, and Nigel Agnew are the proprietors of the Toronto Underground Cinema, a single-screen repertory theater that caters to the film nerd community who crave seeing films the way they were meant to be seen.
Backed by a single investor, in a theater hidden underneath a giant condo building, the underground cinema sits away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets, visible to no one. That didn't stop the three cinephiles from trying to make their dream a reality, to run their own cinema that plays the films they love on the big screen.
The Rep starts out with interviews that include a few prominent names, such as Kevin Smith, George Romero, and folks who represent other repertory cinemas. Austin's very own Lars Nilsen of Alamo Drafthouse shares more than a few poignant views on the joys and difficulties of running a repertory cinema, or "rep house" as their affectionally called in the film.
The Rep is put together in a really great way. As the Toronto Underground Cinema launches with much fanfare at a free screening, it seems as if this risky venture wouldn't be so risky. But the passionate trio quickly learn that if you build it, they don't always come. Despite the apparent lack of initial success, there are still moments that would make anyone realize the true power of cinema and how much it can really affect someone. Andrew Parker, a local film critic in Toronto, was literally on the verge of suicide until he happened upon the Toronto Underground Cinema. Even though the theater was in desperate need of every dollar they could get their hands on, Charlie gave him some free passes to help cheer him up on what he thought was just a movie fan having a bad day. He wrote a blog post about this experience, which you can read here.
This movie represents the human spirit at its finest. When every logical thought indicates that this would be a failed venture from the start, Alex, Charlie and Nigel soldier on. The power of cinema is too great to just give up on an idea that is great but doesn't seem to be taking off. Cinema has a lot of power, and they understand that. It's got the power to move, to make you feel something, and in Andrew Parker's case, the power to heal. That is one idea that is consistent with everyone featured in this documentary. Despite the odds against the very idea of a successful repertory cinema, there will always be people who love cinema in ways that will make a venture like this worthwhile.
The Rep is an important film. It's important because it is a sobering look at the diminishing state of cinematic preservation. If you're reading this, it's because you love cinema. Here in Austin, we're lucky enough to have a successful repertory cinema in the Alamo Drafthouse, but if you're reading this in another city and you love movies, please support your local theaters, especially if they're independently owned. And if you've never taken the chance to watch an old film in a movie theater that you've watched at home dozens of times, please try it sometime. It might just change your life.
The Rep screens again at Austin Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 5 pm at Alamo Drafthouse Village.
Austin connections: The interviews in The Rep include Alamo programmer Lars Nilsen, former Alamo/Fantastic Fest programmer Kier-La Janisse, and Austin Film Society Advisory Board member Kevin Smith.