A flow of cinematic images combines memories, fiction, and discoveries in a loving poetic ode to the wonder of the movie theater experience.

The experience of the audience is the main emphasis of this movie. The audience is sent to a different location as soon as the lights go down and pictures are shown on a screen. Bookended by literary and cinematic allusions, Desplechin’s novel-format docufiction is presented such that the experience of the spectator takes center stage.

The narrative of Desplechin’s recurrent character, alter ego Paul Dédalus (Mathieu Amalric), a relatable everyday guy, reflects his connection with film. Everything we see here is seen through Paul’s eyes—certain events that influenced his growth as a moviegoer.

We witness excerpts from classics and thoughts from loyal fans. As Paul’s maturation progresses, we get to enjoy all the joys and delights of being a movie buff. Paul is portrayed by Louis Birman as a youngster, by Milo Machado-Graner as a teenager, by Sam Chemoul as a twentysomething, and by Salif Cissé as a thirtysomething, all of whom reflect on their early experiences as moviegoers.

Paul, age six, and his younger sister, Flavie Dachi, are seen in one scene being brought to the cinema for the first time by their grandmother, Françoise Lebrun. The beam of light coming from the projection booth is observed to have Paul enthralled. In another, Paul, who is 14 years old, pretends to be younger than he is in order to visit Lille and witness “Cries and Whispers.” Paul’s life is changed by the watching.

In order to appropriately portray the romanticism of films, cinematographer Noé Bach collaborates with Desplechin to infuse the experience with a warm amber light. This movie pays homage to the shared cinematic experience. It recreates the enchantment of the big screen by fusing reality and fantasy. And the attraction is everywhere.