Last Call: The Shutdown of NYC Bars is a uniquely New York movie. NYC has been the home of many films and the majority of them have a distinctive feel. Some of those movies have even been biopics or documentaries about tragedies. A person does not have to have been there to know when they are seeing a New York movie.
The film is about the pandemic and the effects it had on New York. There is trepidation going into Last Call. Not only is it a film about something many are still going through, but it is very specific. With businesses hiring and job seeker engagement still down due to uncertainty (among other reasons), it may not be the type of documentary people want to see today.
There is no way that Last Call can avoid dealing with financial loss, but that is not what it is about. The people interviewed are primarily from Queens. They talk more about the feeling of community and togetherness. There is a sense of commonality found even if the person watching is not a New Yorker or a drinker. The loss of togetherness is something everyone is now familiar with.
Some may criticize Last Call: The Shutdown of NYC Bars for not bringing anything new to the discussion about COVID-19. These people would be entirely correct. They would also be ignoring that the documentary is not trying to increase anyone’s knowledge regarding the disease. It is a story about the toll on lives. The resulting experience is an exploration of some of our deepest needs
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