The
legend says that there was a time in Spain, when a squirrel (Roman, to
be more precise) could run across the Peninsula from the north to the
south jumping from one tree to another without ever touching ground.
The nostalgic locals also say that there had been a time, rather remote now to most to remember, that in this country when the TV viewers could count on each day if they so wished, real classy and classic films of the bygone days without ever leaving the house, every late night on Channel 2. The authentic cinematographic gems local and foreign, covering the full range of categories. Those that were only shown, and many had won prizes in film festivals internationally, then somehow never got to be distributed (great shame). All were emitted in their original version, with subtitles (to me, so much better than dubbed), mostly also uncensored (delightful), in black & white, or in coloured copies reasonably acceptable. So that audience needn't be limited only to what Hollywood or the TV channel directives threw at them.
This custom is unfortunately changed for the worse, as half the programming are taken up by so called 'reality' trash. To see the other half, the films I am interested in, I have to not only stay up late, but suffer interruptions by the rubbish, which is nearly & inevitably always inserted in the middle. For instance, a film would be split in two parts, with the trashy reality show stuck in the middle.
The biggest problem, for foreigners like myself living here, is that, like any kind of other entertainment, practically nothing is ever offered before midnight. Cinemas starts their evening hours from 11pm or thereabouts, theatres and concerts too. Discotheques even later, about 1 am and don't finish till 5 or 6 in the morning! It's logical for the Spaniards, as they have all meals late. I still remember how surprised I was when I first got invitations to dinner by Spanish friends usually meant I needed to take my normal dinner at home first, then attend their's starting at 10,30 'For' 11.30; Very civil allowing a whole hour for drinks but punishment for the stomach!! I am used to the late meals now, but not after midnight movies.
Why anything good and fun has to be done so late at night beats me. Yet the Spanish are early risers. Schools, offices, banks, post offices, shops, cafes ... all open up at 8 am. The cafe I used to go starts the morning trade at 5 am; I am talking about in Catalunya. In the rest of Spain,
Madrid for instance, everything starts at least an hour later than here. So dinner is really for me a mid night fare. No complaints here, I love to eat, at any hour, but I wish the good films would show at a decent hour so I don't have to miss them all.
The following photo has nothing whatever to do with this Blog; I just like it very much. Reminds me how small and insignificant I am, and therefore so are my problems.
- Current Mood:
Contemplative
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