Cine Europa Day 2: A Sort of Reunion

My second Cine Europa day for this year was planned a week before it happened. My long lost cousin, Jeff and I got in touch after what seemed like ages and decided to meet up for a sort of reunion / bonding / catching up. The plan was to watch from 12nn until 12 mn, but it didn’t push through because first, I wasn’t able to wake up in time to catch the 12nn flick and well, Jeff got “caught in traffic”, which I think is a sort of lame excuse. [Kidding!] When we finally got to meet, it was too late to catch even the 2pm film so we had to wait for Facing Windows whose screening is at 6pm and fall in line at around 4pm for the tickets. You will not believe how easily the tickets can run out. It’s a competitive sport, haha. My cousin and I had to get four tickets [for Haze and Rach] so after falling in line for our tickets; we separated and fell in line again to get another set. Pa-spy pa ang drama, nagkita pa sa hagdan after ng krimen. Apir cousin!

It was around this time that I texted Rach and Haze to join me and my cousin. Rachelle said yes and emphasized the importance of us watching that 9pm film, Just Sex and Nothing Else. The title easily enticed my cousin; the only word he could remember was Sex. We decided to enter the cinema late so we can fall in line first at around a few minutes after 6 for the Just Sex and Nothing Else tickets. When Rach arrived, I got to introduce her to Jeff whom she thinks looks cute because he looked like a big17 year old playing with his PSP. Our only dilemma was that the “brilliant Hazel” didn’t make it to fall in line for the 9pm film at six. So, the Cine Europa whores that we are tried to find a way to get Haze’s ticket. Alas, I saw my friend / high schoolmate Jan who was luckily alone. I asked her if I could fall in line [again] with her so I can get another ticket for my brilliant friend. She said yes and so we got to reconnect. I found out that she currently works or Gabriela as a writer. I knew she’d be someone someday, I’m glad she found her purpose. Now, with four tickets for Facing Windows and five tickets for Just Sex and Nothing Else, we asked Jan to just watch Facing Windows with us because it was apparent that Haze will not make it on time anyway.

Facing Windows was very interesting. It was about an old man with a mental problem who turned out to be a pastry expert who was looking for Simone. The twist was that Simone turned out to be a guy [the old man’s gay] and that they had a secret place where they would exchange love letters. When the Nazis came, the old man saved the very same people who judged him and Simone for being homosexuals. Ohh, but the real protagonist was this woman accountant who had a family and an absolutely hot husband who doesn’t take care of her. She met this absolutely way hotter guy who lives just across her apartment, thus the title Facing Windows. The cinematography was good; the little details were little puzzles that completed quite an exquisite picture. The lines fit the mood of the film. In other words, ahlaveeet.

Just Sex and Nothing Else probably is my most favorite of all the films in my three-day Cine Europa escapade. No, it’s not because there’s sex in it, in fact, it was surprisingly wholesome. What made it extraordinary are its wit and its ability to transform the usual plot [boy meets girl, they hate each other initially but the phrase, “The more you hate the more you love.” comes into place.” The woman is made cynical by her unfortunate relationship experiences thus hiding her being a romantic who wants to have kids and the guy reputed as playboy but in reality is a very loyal knight in shining armor.]

After our Cine Europa day, Haze, Rach, Jeff and I decided to have dinner at Hula! Hula! I’m so glad that Rach and Haze liked Jeff and Jeff, the usual “people-person” that he is, was able to jive with my friends. The night ended with us being won over to his side after a day of me teasing him about being a chauvinist [hehe]. It was a great second Cine Europa day.