The retired electrician who has revived cinema in a corner of Spain

"The ritual begins with a retired electrician who used to work at a sugar factory in the Spanish province of Leon donning a gray cap and a smock with the Italian title Operatore de la macchina (machine operator) scrolled across the front. The man sits in a chair with a cloth back like those used by filmmakers on which the phrase Trebol el proyeccionista (Shamrock, the projectionist) is written."

"He carefully selects a Pathe Baby projector, a relic from 1912, grabs its handle and turns it on to project on a simple panel the silent, comical antics of The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin's famous character, in black-and-white. Only the clatter of the device interrupts the silence. Miguel Perez, known as Trebol or Trebolin (shamrock) to his friends, smiles with satisfaction."

"Everything works here! he exclaims, throwing open his arms as if he wants to encompass the entire film museum in Veguellina de Orbigo, a village of 2,000 people in the province of Leon. The structure is filled with centuries-old pieces that were purchased and fixed by Trebol. He's loaned them to his town for the enjoyment of film buffs, as well as for curious locals and outsiders."

Miguel Perez, a 68-year-old retired electrician from Leon, refurbishes antique projection equipment using skills learned at a sugar beet factory. He collected decades-old devices, repaired broken components, and assembled a museum space in Veguellina de Orbigo that seats around 100 people. He projects silent black-and-white films, including Charlie Chaplin shorts, using equipment like a 1912 Pathe Baby projector. He loaned the restored pieces to his town under an agreement with the City Council, enabling film buffs and curious locals to experience historical cinematic technology. The collection emphasizes mechanical restoration, community access, and preservation of film-related artifacts.

Read at english.elpais.com