Monday, June 11, 2007

Weird Sunday

I had an odd Sunday. Went to the cinema to watch a screening of Hard Boiled, the classic Hong Kong action film, in central London. The screening was free, so there was a long queue going all the way around the corner, leading into Leicester Square.

So there I was, waiting in line at 10 in the morning, when who do I see, it's Alistair; a guy I used to work with in Tajimi in Japan. He's coming along to watch the film too. The last time I spoke to him, I was going home drunk from Ichinomiya.

So we go in and I watch the film with someone I haven't seen for over a year and then we part and I go and have lunch in Chinatown. After meeting my hungover uncle, I go back to the cinema because they are showing a free screening of Point Break, the classic surfing heist film. I already know that Alistair might be there with his girlfriend.

I go back, and lo and behold, I see Alistair; but more shockingly, I see his girlfriend Yasue. The last time I saw her was in Kasugai, where we also worked together. So I went in with these two ghosts from Japan and we sit and watch the film.

The reason these film were free was because they are there to promote Brit action comedy film, Hot Fuzz, due to be released on to DVD today. So before each of these screenings, director Edgar Wright and actor Nick Frost came on stage to introduce the films. So they introduced it and then the film started. A few minutes later, I see some latecomers sitting in the seats next to me. I look at them, only for a second, before I realise it's only Wright and Frost, staying to enjoy the movie. So there I am, between my ex work colleagues from Japan and a director and actor of international films.

Crazy.

(BTW, on the way home I saw a Copus Christi procession outside the local Polish church. They were just marching around, following the Father and his instructions. Every so often, everyone would go down on bended knee and say a prayer. It was quite a sight to see a mass of people kneel down in the middle of the road.)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've got a great idea for you.. You should post photos along with your writing. Then I could see you again! I mean, your writing does form an image in my head, but it would still be nice to look at the real thing as well.. Go on- it would be great!

Kwok said...

That is a good idea! I've been thinking of putting up pictures for a long time. Might start looking into it...

Tim said...

wow I havent seen Big Al in a while now I know why!Hope you gave him my regards.
As for photos I recommend you put some up on your site,as a confirmed Luddite its not a difficult process
tim

Obiter said...

I do believe I was in Leicester Square that day; I was on my way to Haagen Dazs after a gluttonous feast of dim sum at Royal China, and spotted a mass of people at Prince Charles cinema. If you saw a short bloated looking Chinese girl pointing open-mouthed at your queue, that was me. Hot Fuzz is decent. I think I found Shaun of the Dead more amusing though.

Kwok said...

that's funny, cos royal china was were i met my uncle for lunch.

cor, wouldn't it have been funny if we walked right past each other and not even noticed...

Obiter said...

Now, that would have been crazy eh? And, better than sitting next to Nick Frost I tells ya...