Like many coming-of-age films about films, it’s easy to assume that Last Film Show would be a derivative of all-time film classic Cinema Paradiso. Both films from opposite corners of the world, separate by more than three decades, do share that awe of cinema from a projection booth, but Last Film Show takes the projection even further, with Samay and his friends taking the few reels that pass through their rural village, and experiment outside the theater to create a projector of their own. This journey occurs in part to due the economic difficulties Samay’s family face, but through his precociousness, the film proves his dedication to cinema through awe-inducing scenes of light, shadow, and music, and a devastating (if a tad unsteady) third act twist that turns his films into new life. While the town projectionist Fazal would say movies are made to con people, Last Film Show nevertheless understands that these lies, these shadows, these illusions are still worth saving, depending on what you make of it.

The ending.