"L'Artifice et le factice" is the episode that covers the period from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1988 of my filmed Notebooks.

From the first paying public screening on December 28, 1895, at the Grand Café in Paris, to the present day, this film tells the story of movie theaters over a century of existence. Accompanied by a commentary, a skilful montage of archive footage, some of it previously unseen, traces this evolution - from the golden age of the Gaumont-Palace and the Grand-Rex to the era of multi-screen complexes - illuminated by memories and testimonials from exhibitors, architects and cinema professionals.