Film has an alluring inspiration as it mesmerizes the audience through light and sound at a safe distance.  A viewer that sits down in front of a screen can, in peace, experience happiness, love, heartache, danger, and fear while knowing what is on the screen cannot physically hurt them.  The film provides a two sensory experience (visual and auditory) that can enlighten the viewer in such a manner that the viewer can learn something from the cinematic experience.  Thus, at the end of the film there should be a slight change within the viewer as the film offers something to reflect upon, or an experience that affects the audience.  Escapism could be defined as habitually removing one's self from reality into a safe environment where mere visual invention creates an opportunity for cerebral activity and entertainment.  The characters in Cinemania seem to do this several times on a daily basis as they base their life on this visual and auditory escape.

The documentary follows Roberta, Jack, Eric, Bill, and Harvey and how they live their lives and how film affects their life as a whole.  Through their escapism, which is even discussed in the film, the film depicts how they plan when to see a film, how they find out where they show the best print of the film, and the fastest route to the theater where the film is to be shown in order to maximize the number of viewings.  If they would miss a film, it would be a disaster, as if they missed an opportunity to find essential wisdom, or a life experience such as a first love.  However, they miss birthday parties, weddings, and funerals with no hesitation as film is their life.  They do not hold jobs as they live month to month on disability and welfare money with a constant threat of being evicted.  A psychologist would deem them to have a severe addiction as it negatively affects their social, financial, and physical health to what would be considered the norm.  Nonetheless, they are aware of their habits as they love the moment when the theater gradually darkens and the projector display its magic on the screen.

The magic of film and cinema is an illusion that affects all viewers in one way or another, but for Roberta, Jack, Eric, Bill, and Harvey it is as important as breathing.  Cinema has hexed them into a state where they must participate as frequently as possible while the hectic life of New York surrounds them.  A good thing is that they live in New York as it is the only city that could be compared to the cinematic Mecca, Paris.  This means that they get to see several advance screenings.

Cinemania is a film that most viewers would find interesting, intriguing, amusing, and much more as it conveys the story of five eccentric New Yorkers and their cinematic obsessions.  Many film enthusiasts could find a resemblance to themselves in the film, yet most do not want to recognize their own peculiarities through this documentary.  When the end credits roll and the darkened theater is slowly illuminated we know the film is over, but do they?

DIRECTED BY

Angela Christlieb
Stephen Kijak

COUNTRY

USA

Filmography links and data courtesy of