What Stars Watched Last: A New Historical Lens

Filmmaker Stanley Schtinter's documentary 'Last Movies' presents a unique historical perspective by focusing on the final films watched by famous cultural figures. Narrated by Jeremy Irons and inspired by Schtinter's book of the same title, the film premiered at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival.

The documentary adopts a darkly humorous and alternative timeline, questioning how film history might change if shaped by the more or less random movies celebrities viewed before their deaths. This approach aims to reveal biases within established historical narratives.

Schtinter's research methods included extensive library study and direct contact with individuals connected to the subjects. He sought to create a 'technology for rewilding the imagination,' allowing viewers to connect with the final moments of cultural icons.

The film's editing process primarily used footage from the films watched by the subjects, offering an illuminating, often indirect, parallel to written accounts. Schtinter suggests that this method allows the living to assist the imagination of the dead.