Watch Exclusive ‘Empire of Light’ Featurette: “That Little Beam of Light Is An Escape”

A consummate professional, Hilary (Olivia Colman) manages a seaside movie theater in Empire of Light. Set in Britain during the turbulent early 1980s, Hilary appears to have recovered from a past personal issue and finds herself drawing close to new employee Stephen (Michael Ward). Their tentative romance soon faces obstacles that are far greater than their surface differences. Can the healing power of cinema and community help them both?

“I’ve always looked for a way to try to address that time that was my time,” writer/director Sam Mendes explains, speaking about his formative years in the late 1970s and early 80s in our exclusive featurette. “Those memories are very personal.” Olivia Colman notes: “The script was really good.” We hear from actors Colin Firth, Tanya Moodie, Michael Ward and Toby Jones about Sam Mendes’ appealing manner of directing actors, which is enhanced with behind the scenes footage. Colin Firth concludes by talking about the commonality of sharing the cinema experience: “I hope that people come to see this film in that spirit.”

Watch the warm and engaging video below, then get tickets to enjoy Empire of Light and its compelling wonders, only in select movie theaters Friday, December 9.