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Travelers In Night

Decent Essays

Travelers in the Night Creates a Balance between Stillness and Energy

By: Emma Morgan

Ena Sendijarevic brings life into the dialogue-free Travelers in the Night (Reizigers in de Nacht) through music and dance.

At the beginning, Travelers in the Night (Reizigers in de Nacht) seems as if it will be a calm film following the life of a late-night cashier at a gas station convenience store. The film opens with a shot of a woman, the cashier, with her back to the camera as she restocks the cigarette shelf.

After restocking the shelves, she goes outside for a smoke break. The camera focuses on her as she relaxes and smokes her cigarette. In the background, the viewer hears a big truck pull up and then a customer walks into the store. The …show more content…

The song changes and the man begins to dance, subtly at first and then vigorously and passionately. The cashier notices the man's dancing and she turns up the music to encourage him. This is the first – and probably only – entertainment she's had working this shift.

The man clearly knows he's being watched. He starts to put on a show, dancing dramatically through the store and then faking a fall to get the cashier out from behind the register. When she walks over to check on him, he sneaks up on her and tries to pull her into his dance. This surprises and annoys her at first, but her reaction changes quickly from anger and distrust to a shy happiness. She gives in and starts dancing with the man as if they were two friends who have known each other for a long time.

She continues dancing and enjoying herself, even after the man has walked away. It's only a few seconds later that the cashier opens her eyes and realizes the man is stealing money from the cash register. He knows she's watching him, but he continues with his business and then he leaves the store. She follows him out, but he drives off, leaving the cashier confused and a little hurt. It's almost as if she feels abandoned because he left her at her boring job and took the music and fun with him. And that's how this film feels for the viewer after the thief

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