April 15th, 2025 – Last week, we held a screening of Barcelona which turned into a memorable evening of unexpected twists – both on and off screen.
Just as the film was underway, a sudden power outage—courtesy of strong winds—plunged the theater into darkness. But the show went on, quite literally. Embracing the moment, filmmaker Whit Stillman and esteemed former New York Times film critic Janet Maslin took to the stage for an impromptu Q&A. With only the ambient glow of our audiences iPhones, the two held court, entertaining the audience with behind-the-scenes insights and stories from the making of the film.
Roughly 30 minutes later, the lights (and projector) flickered back to life, and the audience was able to finish the movie. Once the credits rolled, the evening wrapped up with a proper, full-length Q&A between Stillman and Maslin.
Barcelona, a witty romantic comedy set against the sunlit backdrop of Spain’s cultural capital, stars Taylor Nichols and Chris Eigeman (both from Stillman’s Metropolitan) alongside Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino. With its clever dialogue, romantic entanglements, and sharp satire, the film captivated the audience—even with an unscheduled intermission.
Sometimes, the best nights at the movies are the ones that don’t go according to plan.
Photos by: Peter T Michaelis
