Saturday, March 31, 2007

a title that makes sense for us all

In honor of Mr. McGregor's birthday, I just watched Trainspotting (1996). No, I don't need a silly excuse like that to pop in one of my all-time favorite films. But it occurred to me that I hadn't watched it at all since I've been here. I know the film so well that I often can have it playing while I do other things and still repeat the lines along with Rents, Spud, Sick Boy, Begbie, etc.

But there are things that I noticed and now fully understand since I've lived in the UK (and have even been to Edinburgh).

1.) I now know what Lucozade is. (Renton lists it as one of the things you need to get yourself off heroin, along with cans and cans of tomato and mushroom soup, milk of magnesium, and tons of pornography.)

2.) I now know that the "worst toilet in Scotland" is at the back of a sports betting store. It had never been clear to me what kind of place this was. Until now. Now that I have seen many a betting store.

3.) You only see part of Edinburgh Castle, reflected in a mirror above the entrance to a John Menzies store on Princes Street downtown. Remember, one of my impressions of Edinburgh is that you can see the Castle from almost everywhere.

Yeah, well, I don't know what else to say. I don't feel like recounting my relationship with this film. Not here, not right now. It's just always been very important and special to me. And watching it just now makes me miss my *rare* poster hanging in my room at home. Of Spud, Renton, Begbie, and Sick Boy in suits (from the end of the film). Begbie is not only grabbing his crotch, he's got his whole hand inside his fly.

Memories, memories.

2 comments:

Ridiculous Authenticity said...

Your title leaves a lot to be desired. At least it's not cheesy, you know, Velveeta cheesy like that Mary Bryant miniseries, which you don't want to see.

Alexandra Frank. said...

My title, thank you very much, refers to the act of "trainspotting." We all do it. My title also refers to the title of the film, "a title that makes sense for us all."

There you go. I said it. This was just a trick to get me to explain one of my obscure titles, wasn't it, eh?