Review by Rui Pastorin
Every now and then, I like to pass by Cinematheque•Passion on Travessa da Paixão (戀愛巷) to see what’s being shown.
The cinematheque is a place that, in my opinion, has delivered many pleasant surprises in terms of its programming, the most recent of which includes the current screening of Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai’s 1990 film “Days of Being Wild” until Friday.
During another quick visit yesterday, however, I came to appreciate a different aspect beyond watching movies there: the “Film Information Room”.
While it does not house a large collection, I found myself perusing the decent selection of books, available in both Chinese and English, that might not only be useful to those involved in or studying film, but people wanting an introduction to or with a general interest in movies.
There are books about cinematography, along with those related to household names such as Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, and Clint Eastwood. I also spotted film encyclopaedias tackling specific genres, with interesting titles like “Gun And Sword – An Encyclopaedia of Japanese Gangster Films 1955-1980”, while periodicals and magazines were also displayed.
While one unfortunately won’t be able to borrow any of the books, the small area is a quiet, clean and comfortable place that can allow for some deep reading. In addition to browsing the publications on offer, there is also a dedicated area to watch a selection of short films created by Macau’s very own filmmakers.
As someone with a deep love for films, this entire space is definitely something I do appreciate as it offers something not just for cinephiles* and film lovers, but also for those curious about films and hoping to garner behind the scenes knowledge.
This might be further supplemented through three exhibition areas outside the Film Information Room. One section, the “Behind the Scenes, Beyond the Frame: Exhibition of Product Design on Macao Film” gives a behind-the-scenes look through related exhibits about three local films: “Our Seventeen”, “Kissing the Ground You Walked On”, and “I Want to Be a Plastic Chair”, with the showcase ending its near year-long run on Friday. The other sections are meanwhile dedicated to filmmaking and still photography.
Altogether, the public doesn’t only have a chance to watch a film, but learn about the craft behind it through books and exhibits, going beyond the movies.
One can visit both the film information room and the exhibition areas from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
*A cinephile is a person with a deep, passionate love for cinema and the art of filmmaking. - Gemini
This photo shows part of a collection of books displayed in the “Film Information Room” of Cinematheque•Passion on Travessa da Paixão (戀愛巷). – Photos: Rui Pastorin
The “Behind the Scenes, Beyond the Frame: Exhibition of Product Design on Macao Film” is on display on the ground floor of Cinematheque•Passion
