They don't have a name, role or voice—yet their presence on screen is essential. Sanaz Azari's observational documentary shifts the spotlight towards film extras, following them as they prepare for shoots, wait for the AD's instructions and pass the time in eye-opening conversations with each other. In voice-over, "extras wanted" advertisements bring to light how stereotypical the profiles usually are. If Ricky Gervais's sitcom Extras offered a smart parody of the world of show business, Backstage Action takes a more political tack, showing how cinema subdivides people into archetypal communities and relegates actors of colour to clichés and the invisible background. Finally getting a voice, the extras here transcend their labels. They're not on screen to make a scene look real: they give us a glimpse of the real person. Charlotte Selb