The lights dim, the screen glows, and for a moment, the rest of the world disappears. For Star R. ’27, that moment is everything. “When the theater goes quiet, it’s an indescribable feeling,” she explains. “You’re immersing yourself in the movie; it’s not just watching, it’s an experience.” Countless times throughout high school, we annotate novels, read journal articles, and discuss poetry — but other than the Film Studies elective offered by Mr. Downing, examining film at Lakeside is scarce. For Star, film is “a largely underrated mode of learning.” She believes that in a multitude of ways, “film is easier to learn from than other forms of media. Its variety and diversity is vast. The art in it makes it an experience.”
The deep admiration for immersing oneself in a movie inspired Star to create Cinema Club. Still, she admits that the drive behind the club was a little self-serving. “At first, I honestly just wanted a way to watch movies at school,” she laughs. “I wasn’t sure if anyone else would share that passion.” However, even at the first meeting, students from a variety of grades, both underclassmen and upperclassmen, turned up to engage with the club. “It made me realize how many people are looking for a way to take a breather. Lakeside can be overwhelming, and for that hour of ACT, a movie can occupy your brain completely. It gives you a space to just exist.”
However, for Star, the power of film goes beyond escapism. “We rarely give a critical lens to film in the way we do to books,” she argues. She points to “Jojo Rabbit” as an example, a satire film set in World War II. “It’s funny but also tackles heavy themes of history and bias in a way that’s digestible. That’s how film informs — by disarming people first.” Such is a unique strength of cinema: it slips past emotional defenses. Through image, emotional acting, and narrative, films speak to the soul in a way that textbooks and literature do not. It makes people feel before they realize they are learning something, and that is when the lesson really sticks.
Star’s future dreams for Cinema Club are ambitious but grounded. She sees potential in the club collaborating with Student Government to take on more school-wide movie nights — and eventually, expand into something that allows students to get involved with filmmaking. Cinema Club can evolve into more than just a space to watch movies; it can become “the go-to place on campus for all things film.” Additionally, Star hopes to see the club grow in its reach and impact, ultimately taking the opportunity to work with local Seattle film programs. “So many small theaters are closing because of streaming. If we don’t support them, we’ll lose them. I want to build a community that keeps cinema alive — in theaters and in the conversations we have about it.”
However, to grow its presence, Star notes that Cinema Club needs more support from our students and community.After all, the future of film at Lakeside depends on the people who care enough to keep watching.
(Cinema Club meets every Tuesday during ACT in the Team Room.)
