Just a movie? Maybe not

[serai]

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claudia603 was posting about watching the LOTR films, and a commenter mentioned things overheard in the audience. This put me in mind of something that happened to me at the theater which has stuck with me, and I think always will. I posted about it at TORn back in the day, but I'd like to share it with you all now.

When ROTK came out, I went for my third viewing to a theater just a few blocks from my house. I got there right before the show so it was really packed. (The only seat I could find was in the front row, yikes!)

Now you all know when a theater is packed you can't pick and choose who you'll sit next to. I sat down with a bit of trepidation next to two teenage guys who had that smartass look about them. But hey, ROTK! I'm not gonna miss a showing just 'cause other people aren't Ringers.

So the show started and soon my fears came true. The guys started making comments. Not loud ones, and not nasty, but they didn't take the film very seriously. (Although they did like it, I could tell.) So I just ignored them.

Now, with ROTK during its theatrical run, I cried every damn time. (Except the first time, when I was too busy getting used to the shape of the film story and couldn't dive into the emotions. Also, I was exhausted from the precious NINE HOURS.) But each time, I cried at a different spot. This time it was Pippin's song that did me in, and I started to sniffle, really wanting to sob, but you know - quiet scene, plus crowd.

So I'm trying to breathe, and tears are running down my face. The guys are joshing, and then the one sitting next to me heard me sniffling and looked over at me. I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was surprised, and then he turned and whispered something I couldn't hear to his friend. And guess what?

They never said another word.

All through the rest of the film, they were quiet. They just watched, and by the end I could tell they appreciated the story in a different way than they had enjoyed it at first. I think it stopped being something to roll their eyes at, and that maybe seeing me crying had opened them up to the possibility that there might be something there for them that they hadn't known before. Maybe that taught them something they might take into the real world. Who knows?

It's a little thing, but for me it summarizes so much about LOTR, the films, the impact they had, and what film can accomplish, writ large as well as writ small. Maybe some people might be turned off a bad path by these movies (as they have been by the books). I don't know. I just know it was a really important moment for me.

To quote Ten Bears, "That is all I have to say."

Comments

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for sharing this. It's deeply touching to me, just as the films are.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. PJ gave the world such a gift with these films.

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

A very sweet story, and I hope those boys did learn from your example.

*hugs you*

[serai1.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* At least they may have come to understand how much these films mean to some people, and that it's not all hype.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh wow. That's a really great story. I sure hope they DID get something out of it!

(What a contrast from one of my experiences for ROTK in which I sat next to a beast of a woman who told me to shut the hell up (during the previews) when I was talking to my friend and then proceeded to not say anything at all until the point when Frodo and Gollum went over the edge at Mount Doom and then she laughed...)

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Oh gods, I probably would have told her to lighten up. I hate it when people shush you during the fucking trailers. Who the hell cares?

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this, my dear. I'm deeply moved... by your words, by the films.
*hugs you*

[serai1.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thanks, hon.

[hobbitlove83.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling, for sharing this!

And I guess those guys owed you big time- your tears must have made them realize the kind of gem they were watching.

*huggles*

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I hope so. I think so. *hug*

[serai1.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, sweetie.


By the by, I emailed elke my resume but I never heard from her whether it arrived or not, so I'm hoping she answers my email. :(

[oxer12.livejournal.com]

Great example of how powerful the movies are. And I think it speaks very well of the boys, too, that they realized they should shut up.

I miss those days so much...

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Oh Goddess, so do I. The world seems a bit duller since the uproar died down, doesn't it?

[estelanui.livejournal.com]

Thank you for telling your story.
The free experssion of genuine feelings is always a gift for the people around. I need to remember this time to time. :)

My first ROTK screening was completely different. I was in a half full theater of a foregn Country in a quite complete silence.
It let me feel all the emotions like in a bubble. I cried hard for the lighting at the beacons and I continue to do it every screening of the film.