The Criterion mobile closet is headed to the Chicago International Film Festival amid an intense political weekend | Features

At all of its previous stops – Austin, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York – the Criterion Mobile Closet has attracted crowds of moviegoers hoping to pick their favorite films and shoot their own videos in their closet. His latest appearance at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival drew similar crowds during a short October weekend (11-13) that also witnessed No Kings protests and ICE raids in other parts of the city.

Those who arrived to partake in the cornucopia of cinema arrived as early as 7:30 a.m., coming from Chicago and other parts of the Midwest. The faithful were first greeted by temperate weather before enduring the first cool hours of fall on a final rainy and freezing day. However, no one’s enthusiasm was dampened.

“It rained for about an hour and a half, but everyone is in a really good mood,” shared Nick Meyers, one of many people to enter the Mobile Closet. “We all mingled, met and talked about what we were looking forward to choosing and our favorite films. It was a great atmosphere.”

For movie buffs like Nick, the Criterion Mobile Closet is an opportunity to enjoy an experience usually reserved for actors, filmmakers and other celebrities. It all started in 2010, when Guillermo del Toro visited the Criterion offices to discuss the potential for a three-film box set of his early works. Using an iPhone, Criterion filmed Del Toro going into their closet to pick out some of his favorite films. This grainy video launched what would become Criterion’s Closet Picks series, which welcomed talents like Agnes Varda, Barry Jenkins, Michael Shannon, Isabelle Huppert, Tracy Letts and many others into the narrow confines of the discs shelved to select films with which they have a personal, professional or creative connection.

Videos and Polaroids of visitors holding up their picks became an Internet status symbol that both strengthened Criterion’s brand and made it an increasingly popular stop for many creatives during their awards campaigns.

The introduction of the Mobile Closet last year, which first opened at the New York Film Festival, gave ordinary people the chance to browse more than 1,700 titles in the Criterion Collection, make their own videos in their closet, and leave with Polaroid photos of themselves holding their records.

Despite the much larger confines of the Criterion van, which is capable of seating five people as opposed to the two-person size of the actual closet, wait times to get inside are long (full disclaimer: I have been in the physical, mobile closet and written essays for the Criterion releases of “Prince of Broadway” and “Beasts of No Nation”). Most of the people I spoke to on Mobile Closet’s last day in Chicago had already been in line for nearly four hours. You must also pay for your discs, at a reduced price, before leaving. And although “mobile” is in the name, the vehicle is not wheelchair friendly (according to Criterion’s website, they offer wheelchair users a tote bag, a pocket guide, a purchase discount at the Mobile Closet, and a Polaroid at the Mobile Closet with their selections, and they encourage those who need special assistance to contact them in advance).

In Chicago, some visitors complained online about not being warned about queue limits before traveling and the vehicle’s general inaccessibility. For those waiting in line, there was some confusion at first about the line parameters.

“The system was a little weird, but then the president of Criterion explained it, and I was like: Okay, that makes a little more sense” shared Jessie, a senior at DePaul University. “There are three different entrances, and then you have to rush when they say, ‘Go for it.’ And so it was a little hectic. This rush happened when Criterion officially opened the line at 9:30am. If you arrived before this date, you are asked to return at the agreed time. Once people were allowed to queue, they were divided into groups, allowing Criterion to evenly screen the three separate lines set up around the van.

Due to its mobile aspect, the Closet on site has limited stock. “The Battle of Algiers,” for example, was the first title to be sold. Criterion president Peter Becker believes the film’s recent appearance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has contributed to its popularity with visitors. “I think it just shows you how a small clip from a great film can put a classic film on people’s radar,” Becker explained.

Still, the range of people’s choices remained wide: “Lost Highway,” “Vermiglio,” “Night Moves,” “Barry Lyndon” and “The Cranes Are Flying” were just a few titles that those in line shared with me.

The reasons people chose them are as diverse as the titles. “Usually every time I do a Criterion sale, I just get my favorites. But this time, I wanted to have films that I’ve never seen before,” said David Astudillo, who arrived from North Chicago, Illinois, with Sam Adan. “This time I was looking to pick up films that I hadn’t seen or that had an impact on me, especially Japanese films, because we just went to Japan.” Among the duo’s choices were “Onibaba” and “Good Morning.”

And while many planned their visit to the Mobile Closet in advance, others did it on a whim. Lisa Ryan and Carly Simko were in town from Detroit, Michigan, for a RuPaul DJ set when Lisa, a big Criterion fan, heard about the Mobile Closet. Rather than immediately return to Detroit, the two men spent an extra night in Chicago, waking up early and waiting in line. Once they’re done here, they plan to take a nighttime drive the same day back home, where Lisa’s nephew is watching their cat.

Outside of AMC New City, where Mobile Closet is based, much more politically significant events have taken place: The day before, the nationwide No Kings protests, demonstrations aimed at denouncing the despotic policies of President Trump, took place in the Loop and the Chicagoland area. The protests follow President Trump’s order to deploy the National Guard to Chicago – a directive currently blocked in the courts.

Across Chicago, ICE has also conducted raids that not only led to the illegal arrest of many people, but also violence and destruction, including the use of tear gas, smoke bombs, and helicopters, forcing activists and local communities to monitor their neighborhoods for immigration agents and post on social media when agents are spotted. They also filmed and directly confronted ICE to prevent further arrests and raids.

Despite the neat setting of AMC New City — a sort of dissonance with the outside world, with big-box stores and a giant traffic circle with a stone fountain as its centerpiece — the political tenor wasn’t completely out of place.

Instead, some saw the mobile closet as a chance to escape their tense surroundings.

“With everything that’s going on right now, I think a lot of people are just trying to get on with their day as best they can while considering what’s going on with the current administration,” Astudillo shared.

Others, like Roscoe Village resident Nick Funk, believe the weekend’s events show that Chicagoans can come together, regardless of the context or topic.

“I think it’s a very strong city when it comes to coming together for things,” Funk said. “I’m originally from California, and while I don’t want to say that Chicago has a stronger sense of community, I definitely feel like I’m part of a bigger voice here. It’s a city that doesn’t necessarily have egos, but at the same time it wants to push for change and wants its residents to be heard.”

Becker, Criterion’s president, believes those who come to the Mobile Closet or protest have similar feelings. That is to say the joy found in community.

“It’s an event that brings people together, and I think protests can be too. We’re surrounded by a lot of people who share a point of view, a passionate interest or a compelling need to connect with the world,” Becker explained. “But I suspect that for all the people who come together around things that have deep meaning for them, like the No Kings marches, there is a joyful aspect to that.”

Anthony Nuccio, from Joliet, Illinois, echoed Becker’s sentiment, observing that “We live in such a polarized time that it’s really important for people to find what unites them. The arts have always been that, and I think until an AI takeover happens in our lifetime, it will continue to be that.”

And while many people in line expressed joy, relief, excitement, and wonder (several people told me they appreciated the opportunity to “hang out” with other movie fans), they knew that once this experience was over, they would have to return to life.

“I think with everything that’s going on right now, a lot of people are just trying to continue their day in the best way possible while considering everything that’s going on with the current administration,” Astudillo shared. “So even though it’s definitely time to feel a little better, we still have to go home and continue to work through everything that’s going on right now.”

Check out our Social Media Manager’s trip to the Criterion Closet here.