The Cinema

Movies keep billions of people entertained every day. We watch them socially, privately, recreationally, and professionally. The industry – Hollywood, Bollywood, and all those in between – is a star-maker too. If you’re asked to name your favorite celebrity, chances are they’re in movies. And as pure entertainment, no art form can beat cinema. I remember where I was when I first saw Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – it was in the Louvre in Paris, and despite the throng of obnoxious tourists from far-flung lands waving cameras in the air, I found some semblance of transcendence. But it is memories like James Cameron’s Titanic – at the Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill Gate, in 1995, when we all went down with that ship; when Jack made the ultimate sacrifice so we (Rose) might live, and that grizzled octogenarian (also Rose) threw that ginormous blue diamond into the ocean forever. We sobbed. The whole auditorium left, one big sniveling wreck. Does Maximus Decimus Meridius impression “We were entertained!”

But, aside from entertainment and the vast economy of the global film industries, cinema wields immense power; it can shape perception and inspire change. Through storytelling, it can unite diverse voices and cultures, igniting empathy and understanding. Film can transcend boundaries, offering hope and sparking movements that can transform society and leave a lasting impact on the human spirit. Speaking to our incredible cover star, Nadine Labaki, was something of a revelation. You will have to read the interview (P78), but one of her many poignant insights was the responsibility she feels as a filmmaker; as someone who has herself created such a powerful platform. It is surely one of the most powerful platforms that exists.

That’s not to say we don’t all need entertaining. Did the world swoon watching heart-throb actor Nassim Lyes (P112) save the day in the action- horror disaster movie, Under Paris, released to global rapture in June? Of course it did. Did we scream in the theater when the xenomorphs and face-huggers attacked Archie Renaux (P148) in director Fede Álvarez’s new movie, Alien: Romulus? Damn right we did. And if you haven’t seen comedian Michelle De Swarte’s Spent (P96), you must; tears will roll down your cheeks as your sides split with laughter. Cinema can be so many different things, cause us such raw emotion, educate us, uplift us, and inspire us. And the pages of this issue are filled front to back with some of the most inspiring people in this spell-binding industry today. We hope you are as inspired by reading this as we were making it. And, action!