The Flick

Written by Annie Baker
Awards:

  • Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2014)

Synopsis
The Flick is a naturalistic and deeply human portrayal of three employees working in a run-down Massachusetts cinema. Sam, Avery, and Rose pass their days cleaning the auditorium, running the old 35mm projector, and engaging in conversations that reveal their insecurities, dreams, and unspoken tensions. Through its seemingly mundane setting, the play explores themes of loneliness, connection, and the passage of time, offering a poignant reflection on the beauty of ordinary life.

Themes and Analysis

  • The Mundane as Meaningful: The play’s focus on everyday tasks and conversations highlights the significance of small, human interactions.

  • Loneliness and Connection: It delves into the characters’ struggles to form meaningful relationships in a world that often feels isolating.

  • Cinematic Nostalgia: Through the dying art of 35mm projection, the play captures a sense of loss and longing for a simpler, more tactile past.

  • Class and Opportunity: The characters’ low-paying jobs underscore themes of economic struggle and limited prospects.

Key Moments

  • The Projection Reel Debate: A conversation about the superiority of 35mm film over digital projection serves as both a humorous moment and a metaphor for resistance to change.

  • Rose and Avery’s Miscommunication: Their awkward attempts at connection reveal the vulnerabilities and barriers that prevent deeper relationships.

  • Sam’s Emotional Confession: A poignant scene where Sam expresses his unrequited feelings for Rose, highlighting the pain of unspoken desires.

  • The Ending: A quietly powerful conclusion that encapsulates the play’s themes of change, loss, and resilience.

Critical Reception
The Flick was celebrated for its naturalistic dialogue, rich character development, and meditative pacing. Critics praised Annie Baker for her ability to find profound meaning in the ordinary and her willingness to let silence speak volumes.

The New York Times described it as “an unhurried, quietly mesmerizing drama,” while The Guardian called it “a masterpiece of small moments.”

Why It Resonates Today
In a fast-paced world dominated by spectacle, The Flick offers a refreshing focus on the quiet, everyday aspects of life. Its exploration of human connection and the struggle to find meaning resonates universally, making it a deeply relatable work.

Fun Facts

  • The play’s runtime of over three hours and its deliberate pacing sparked debates about theatrical conventions, with some critics dubbing it “radically unhurried.”

  • The Flick cinema was inspired by real small-town theatres that Baker frequented in her youth.

  • Annie Baker is known for her precise stage directions, often specifying pauses and silences that enhance the play’s naturalism.