I interviewed Kris Engel, the Manager of Le Video in his second story cramped office. A loud air conditioner rattled on this unseasonably warm San Francisco evening; movie paraphernalia decorates the walls. I am drawn to the posters; Thunderball, Reservoir Dogs, A Clockwork Orange, Shawshank Redemption. Knowing it’s impossible to pin a film buff down, but still, I want to know what movie made an impact or resonates even today.

“The Big Chill. There was a scene in the kitchen. One of the characters has insomnia and gets up to make himself a sandwich.”

I recall the scene. The character can’t comprehend the recent death of his girlfriend’s college friend.

“He said, ‘That’s life. Nobody ever said it was going to be fun. At least nobody ever said it to me."’ It gave me perspective. Something just sank in.”

I’m transported back to my twenties, when The Big Chill premiered, in 1983. The characters, college friends, convene ten years later for the funeral of their friend who committed suicide. There is self examination and their collective question, “What happened to our idealism?”

Kris also explores this question.

“You have to deal with good and bad. You can’t control your circumstances.You can only control the way you react to them."

This is a great attitude, when working with the public.Kris has seventeen years of retail experience. His career began as a twelve year old in a small town in Michigan where he worked in a skate shop, selling, renting and repairing skates.

“I’ m a stickler. I don’t use brand names. It’s in-line skating. It’s also a cotton swab and a tissue.”

Ten years ago, Kris took a semester off and came to San Francisco to help his sister and brother in- law launch their restaurant in the Marina. They needed a night manager. At that time, Kris didn’t have a particular ambition. He thought he might stay just a little while. He had been to Chicago and Detroit, but had never lived in a city before, but once here, he realized, in less than a month, that he was a city person. And last week, for his 30^th birthday, his friends from Michigan flew out and together they celebrated at the House of Prime Rib.

Kris began working at Le Video, in 2001 as Clerk and six months later,an Assistant Manager and for the past four years has been the General Manager.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had. The staff is knowledgeable and amazing.”

He doesn’t necessarily hire strictly film buffs.

“It’s instinctual. I will hire people that have customer service experience and people that have had steady employment. I often hire people with a food service background because they tend to have an awareness of their surroundings.”

There are several aspects that make this video store unique. They still carry VHS tapes.

“Not everyone has a DVD player. A Lot of stores just threw the VHS tapes out.”

Le Video retains loyal customers who are happy that they aren’t forced to buy a DVD player.

Le Video has been in the neighborhood for twenty eight years. The owner Catherine left Paris for San Francisco. Her passion for movies began as a little girl watching movies at the Cinematheque at the Palais de Chaillot. In San Francisco, Catherine started a photography supply store but movies held more allure. She searched for foreign films and old B movies and rented the movies to customers from her photography store, which in 1980 gave way to Le Video.

Le Video has a library of more than 90,000 films in more genres than I knew existed: Sword and Sorcery, Japanese Sci-Fi, Grind House Burlesque, Blaxploitation, Nunsploitation, Hong Kong Horror, Political Cover Up, Kid Film Oddities and an entire rack (K) dedicated to Halloween.

Excitedly, I tell Kris, of the movie that recently transported me, The Visitor. He was familiar with the filmmaker, Tom McCarthy’s previous movie, The Station Agent. Together we watch the trailer for The Visitor from Kris’ computer. He doesn’t share my enthusiasm.

“Seems, like it has the same feel, as The Station Agent, a lot of dialogue, emotion and character.”

I want to explore our differences when we view a movie.

“Movies do different things for different people. It depends on the mood they’re in at the time. Some people like to watch a movie that’s going to scare them and they want an adrenalin rush. I don’t like to be scared. Other people need a good cry and watch Beaches or Steel Magnolias. Sometimes people need to be uplifted.

Kris admits, he doesn’t have a favorite movie, the list is always in transition, but I wonder about a foreign movie that piqued his curiosity.

“Old Boy. It’s a Korean film. It’s the most twisted revenge tale ever told.”

A classic?

“The Third Man. It’s amazing; it’s my favorite Orson Welles film.”

I know shadows figure prominently in this film and that there was an accidental death or not, while zither music played and the unanswered question prevailed, “Who can you trust?”

A new release?

“King of Kong A Fistful of Quarters.”

I am intrigued.

“It’s a documentary about two guys vying for the world record in Donkey Kong.”

I learn, Donkey Kong is an arcade video game and evidently it’s a tough machine and the entire game lasts less than one minute.

“It’s not really all about the video game. It’s about the battle between the two guys. I saw it at the Red Vic, and the crowd was cheering.”

The movie rented the most at Le Video?

“City of God.”

The phone rings. It’s Adah, from Sunset Stationers. The pen he ordered has arrived.

“I’ll pay 20% more to shop locally.”

I agree and smile when I see the Inner Sunset Merchant’s Association’s, (ISMA) reminder to, “Shop locally.”

Like most of us, he likes the neighborhood restaurants.

“There are about fifty you could walk to. I also like the Little Shamrock Bar. They’re very cool and friendly.”

Kris did all of his Christmas shopping at Wishbone on Irving Street. This is a store with a sense of humor. You can find sushi print pajamas, a deck of Mensa cards or a teapot.

In fact he asked his mother for one gift for Christmas; a promise that she would never shop at Wal-Mart. She granted her son his Christmas wish.

NEXT WEEK: I’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO HERB. AT 105, HE’S ANDRONICO’S OLDEST EMPLOYEE.