As a single-screen cinema in Córdoba, Argentina, faces closure amidst sweeping budget cuts, a demoted projectionist named Pelu secretly takes up residence behind the screen, transforming the abandoned commercial space into a nocturnal refuge for society’s outcasts as explored in Ezequiel Salinas and Ramiro Sonzini’s debut feature The Night Is Fading Away.
The Night In Focus
- Pelu, played by Octavio Bertone, is reassigned from projectionist to night watchman following municipal budget cuts tied to the city hall.
- The theater evolves into a communal haven for a displaced roommate, an aging drifter, and an erotic livestreamer, who gather nightly to watch classics by Jean Renoir, Yasujiro Ozu, and Robert Bresson.
- The film opens in London at the ICA on 23 October.
Economic Realities and Cinematic Sanctuary
Cinema halls have long offered audiences a physical retreat from everyday drudgery, but The Night Is Fading Away constructs a far more porous boundary between the silver screen and the hard edges of reality. Following sweeping budget cuts implemented by the city hall, Pelu finds himself stripped of his traditional projection duties and reassigned to the isolated post of night watchman.
Unable to maintain his cramped rented flat, Pelu quietly makes the theater his permanent home. An unemployed roommate, an aging drifter, and a sex worker broadcasting her shows from the premises form an unlikely, resilient family in the dark. Rather than focusing solely on commercial exhibition, the narrative examines the physical theater building itself as a vital architecture of survival.
Radical Community and the Post-Election Climate
Rather than relying on empty cinephile nostalgia, the film frames the love of classic cinema as an active engine for public good and direct action. Theguardian.com reported that in the wake of Javier Milei’s election win in 2023, which ushered in a new era of far-right conservatism, Pelu and his friends engage in radical acts that transform a commercialised space into a restorative commune. In scenes that evoke the camaraderie of classic westerns, the outcasts gather around a fire to share songs and stories, proving that the warmth generated in the dark extends well beyond the projector beam.
| Film Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Directors | Ezequiel Salinas and Ramiro Sonzini |
| Lead Cast | Octavio Bertone (as Pelu) |
| Key Locations | Córdoba, Argentina (Setting); ICA, London (UK Screening) |
| Screening Date | Opening October 23 at the ICA |
London Screenings and Festival Trajectory
The feature’s international journey continues to build momentum as art-house audiences engage with its distinct blend of political subversion and cinephilic tribute. Following presentations that emphasize its thematic focus on shelter and solidarity, the picture arrives in the United Kingdom later this week. Theguardian.com confirmed that The Night Is Fading Away is at the ICA, London, from 23 October.
