There is something about a beautiful old 1930s Art Deco cinema—a window into a bygone era where cinema-going was the height of sophistication.
Fast forward 50 years, and Empire of Light explores the workers’ lives in a rundown old movie cinema in Margate, one of England’s beachfront towns.
Hilary (Olivia Colman) is the supervisor at the Empire, an aging cinema. She has recently returned to work at the cinema after some time off for her mental health. Upon returning to the Empire, she resumed an affair with her boss, Donald Ellis (Colin Firth).
Hilary is a very delicate character struggling to hold it all together; day-to-day life is a challenge, but her prescription medication keeps her sane.
A new employee, Stephen (Michael Ward), starts at the Empire, and it brings a spark of interest from Hilary. A friendship develops and blossoms into more, slowly unraveling the real Hilary.
Directed by Sam Mendes, Empire of Light is a fascinating tale of the lives of cinema workers. A love story to the art of movie-going, in the same vein as Cinema Paradiso, but a little more gritty and uncomfortable.
Set in the 1980s, racial tensions in the UK were at their worst. It was a period when there were protests from people of color about the treatment of immigrants in the country by the police.
There were riots by neo nazis throughout significant towns and cities across the UK, attacking immigrants and people of color.
During this time, the IRA also blew up buildings, cars, and various public areas, hurting many innocent people.
It was a fractured time in England, and understandably you can see why life might be just a little too harsh for Hilary with so much unease going on in the world around her.
The story highlights the kindness of humans when someone has fallen on their luck, how everyone will rally around them and try to make the world a better place for them, especially when every day is a struggle.
Olivia Colman as Hilary is outstanding in her portrayal of troubled Hilary. On-screen, you witness the slow unraveling of an individual taking herself off her medication, and the world around her slowly disappears. But Olivia is mesmerizing, and you are captivated by such a strong performance.
Empire of Light is a love story set during a troubled time in the history of England. Not understanding the time or the history of the 1980s, it would seem a little strange that there is a film about an interracial relationship.
But the love between Hilary and Stephen, as fractured as it may be, comes from a place of friendship and respect. They greatly admire and respect one another, even if everyone around them is against it.
If you like the world of moviemaking, then this film is for you.
Empire of Light is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
