Closed scope

In a sense, the structure of "CCTV" resembles that of a pure commercial thriller, telling the story of a series of mysterious and bloody murders, along with a variety of potential suspects, each hiding a secret. However, the filming location and the crime plot touch upon the essence of the film itself—from the images on the screen to the operation of the cinema—more precisely, it is both an illusion of projection and a temporary reality for the audience. This core idea is cleverly and directly integrated into the film's narrative structure: a small group of viewers files into a daytime screening in a small Italian town to watch an Italian-style Western. Many audience members see the cinema as a refuge from the unpleasant realities of the external world: an unfaithful couple secretly meets, and a middle-aged homosexual tries to flirt discreetly—but their escape, this movie, this cinema, dramatically impacts their lives. The final reel features a classic Western gunfight scene, but when the gunman shoots towards the camera, one viewer collapses in their seat, a bullet hole appearing in their chest. Chaos ensues, the police are called, and the cinema is closed down, reenacting the crime scene. At the very same moment in the film, another person dies...