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On May 29, a black-and-white bus planted itself in front of the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon. Over the next three days, it would lure people from all walks of life through its doors into a celebration of art and performance. This vehicle was the Criterion Mobile Closet. Containing over 1,700 of the greatest cinema classics from around the globe, the closet has established itself as a hotspot for timeless DVD media.
Over the years, many famous filmmakers, actors, and other creative voices have stepped into the closet to pick their favorite films from the collection. It wasn't until 2024 that Criterion decided to take the films on tour around the United States so film lovers everywhere could have their own experience filming a video inside the infamous library.
Although it seems like a relatively straightforward process, many had a difficult time getting into the event (myself included). Luckily, once you secured a spot in line, you had a guaranteed entry into the bus. Astoundingly enough, this is what people remembered the most about the experience. While in line, I found myself engaged in many passionate conversations with fellow movie buffs, spanning topics ranging from intriguing new recommendations to arthouse cinema. In my little film nerd heart, it was healing to be around so many like-minded individuals who viewed film as not just a source of entertainment, but a look into the minds of great artists. I interviewed another fellow attendee, Kailyn Kortie, about her experience in the Criterion line:
"I met some really awesome people in the line. I met two older guys who were huge movie fans and we ended up talking about some more mainstream stuff like Christopher Nolan and the Spider-Man movies. I also met two young women my age. One was from the Boston area and she had some really fun stories. Iā€™m not the most movie knowledgeable, being a music major, but it was fun to get some movie recommendations from the people around me and the Criterion Closet workers."
Once you enter the closet, you are allotted three minutes to pick (up to) three films and film a video about your picks in a similar style to the web series. Kailyn explained her own experience inside of the dvd library:
"When I finally got inside the closet, it was a pretty surreal experience. Some of my favorite artists have been in the closet, so it was cool to be able to do that and record my own experience. I was a little shy, and only having three minutes I made sure to remember the spine numbers. I ended up choosing "Daddy Longlegs", "Moonstruck" and "Do The Right Thing". "Moonstruck" and "Do The Right Thing" had personal connections while "Daddy Longlegs" was recommended to me in the line."
When your three minutes are up, you are given a complimentary polaroid to remember the experience. I gladly posed with my picks, Silence of the Lambs and Desert Hearts. Both are films that hold a special place in my heart (and now a place on my shelf).
In light of today's use of digital media and streaming services, it is rare that people are able to get together and bond over physical art in a meaningful way. The Criterion Closet tour experience invites film lovers into a space built for them and their passion for classic cinema. At the end of the day, it was more than just a line of people waiting to purchase movies. It was a formative experience that provided a sense of community many haven't felt in a long time.
For more information on Criterion and this event, check out their site: Criterion.com
And head over to the PAM CUT - Tomorrow Theater if you are in the Portland area for more events and exclusive screenings.
