look book

The Look Book Goes to the Angelika

For the first time in nearly a year, moviegoers came back to the theater — masked and seated apart.

Keukmi and Lennox Ali. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Keukmi and Lennox Ali. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

Keukmi Ali, Journalist, and Lennox Ali, Retired (pictured above)

What did you see?
Keukmi Ali: Nomadland. We had interest in it because it’s about people our age, after retirement. Well, I’m not retired yet; I write for a Japanese newspaper. But my husband is. He worked in transit.

What did it feel like to be in a theater?
K.A.: Okay. I know the pandemic is still happening and people should stay home, but we needed to go out, to not lose the courage to go out. Plus, Lennox already got the first shot.

How did you two meet?
K.A.: He was the best man at my sister’s wedding. Before that, I was living in Japan. Then I moved to New York to be with him. Since, I’ve taken him to the Asian countries, and he’s taken me to the Caribbean islands.
Lennox Ali: Next, we’ll go to Nigeria.
K.A.: We found out that’s where most of Lennox’s ancestors were from. We like to move, move.

Tapiwa Gambura, Vedika Basavatia; Students. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

How did you two meet?
Vedika Basavatia: I met Tapiwa virtually at this “tea” event that our college hosted; I’m a first-year at Barnard. Then she got a group of us out to see Minari tonight. It’s been tough to meet people, so this was pretty great. And I’ll stay friends with Tapiwa for sure. We have so much in common. We both love meaningful films.

Gerry Orz, Erwin Chen, Students. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Mahsa Jafari, Nick Hartmann; U.N. officials. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Gavin Smith, Giulia Melucci; Editor, marketing VP. Photo: DeSean
Francesca Fierro, Sabrina Bohn; Students.
Geoffrey Glen, Kayla Zanakis; Writer, actor. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Jon Galante, Juliet Daschowitz; Marketing executive, salesperson. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Dan Duran, William Boyle; Makeup artist, salesperson. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

Was it weird?
Dan Duran: I had a whole range of emotions. I had the virus last year at Paris Fashion Week and was really sick, and I still have such an intense fear of getting it or giving it to anyone. But it was really good once we saw how distanced it was. And if this is the new normal, then that’s okay. It’s pleasant not having to sit next to anyone. Because when you went before, who knew who you’d be next to — sometimes they could be creepy.

Liz Wiseman, Deborah Schutt; Teaching assistant, real-estate broker. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Ellen Kastel, Polly Bookhout; Retired. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Juliet Kwan, Dash Kwan; Actress-singer, student. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Logan Light, Caroline Moore; Consultant, cybersecurity manager. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

What was the last movie you saw?
Logan Light: I actually went to England in the middle of all of this and saw Tenet in a theater because they were open. It was in September, right before their second lockdown. I was one of three people in a theater that probably fit 450 people. There were no masks. Here, it was more crowded, but everyone had to wear masks and there was space. One experience felt safe for the wrong reasons, and the other felt safe for the right reasons.

Taimur Ahmed, Eddie Sitt; Advertising professional, nurse. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Ellen Friedman, Max Friedman; Professor, retired. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

Are you two married?
Ellen Friedman: Yes, for — Christ, for 56 years. We met on a blind date. Does anybody go on blind dates anymore? His best friend and my best friend were going out, so they put us together. I knew he was for me the first night. He was less sure.

Gabriella Schilling, Griffin Boswell; Students. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Brian Levy, John Duff; Physician, retired. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Penny Yilmaz, Mykel Cazales; Speech therapist, retail supervisor. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Ana Tomas, Alexandra Gomez; Doctors. Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

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The Look Book Goes to the Angelika