The terminal bar is a film about photos taken by Stefan Nadelman in a New York bar over a ten-year period, documenting the people that came and went into the bar within that time frame. This film also gives us backstories to some of the people who were photographed, giving us stories and depth to the people in the bar, as well as showing the story of the how the bar evolved over time.
The film is made up of still images, yet the editing made these still images flow making it appear as one moving image, making it seem like more of a film. Rather than seeming like a slide show of images, there is also a combination of moving images and video clips of a man talking about the costumers who would visit the bar and share stories about the men who went and worked there. The film goes in chronological order and shows a development of time.
There is a voice over that reads reviews from newspapers about the bar, they give context to the bar and the outside worlds opinions over the bar and it’s development in a staple of gay culture within new York.
One thing that stood out within the film is the music used and towards the end of the film takes prominent status in showing the photographs, as a collage and a kaleidoscope affect. There’s often a strong beat that captivates the audience, engrossing them into the film and its loose narrative.