THE LOST ARCADE
"Like any good game, The Lost Arcade is worthy of multiple plays, and worthy of being considered one of the best documentaries of the year." – Alto Riot
New York in the 70s and 80s was not kid-friendly: in a city of violence and crime, there were few places that children could safely gather. The Chinatown Fair was a haven for lost souls, an arcade where kids could play video games alongside kindred spirits. But by 2011, home entertainment systems were all the rage and people began to stay home. In the dying days of the Chinatown Fair, an uncertain future faces both the arcade as well as the people who call it a second home.
Filmmakers Kurt Vincent and Irene Chin chanced upon the Chinatown Fair one night, and were struck by its energy. When they discovered it was threatened with closure, they immediately began filming, capturing the arcade's rich history as well as a tightly bound community threatened by cultural gentrification. Their resulting documentary is a story brimming with nostalgia, heart and hope.
"Director Vincent descends on his subject like an angel of mercy, casting light on the disenfranchised denizens that found in the arcade a home away from home." – San Diego Reader