On Friday we viewed a charming Thai coming of age film, My Girl, titled Fan Chan in Thailand:
The basic plot is that a Young Man, Jeab finds out that the best friend from childhood whom he hasn’t seen in 13 years, Noi Nah, is getting married, and that he’s received an invitation. As a child Jeab wasn’t allowed to cross a busy street and play with the other boys, so he spends his time playing with Noi Nah. Through a flashback we see Jeab and Noi Nah as children, and eventually the event that leads to the end of the friendship. There’s alot of fun, laughter, music, and pretty good acting. It would seem that this film is directed at Thais’ raised in the 70’s and 80’s, as it features the music, television, and other "nostalgic" events of that era. But I soon found that laughter and love are universal. My Girl, is a warm and funny movie that explores universal themes associated with growing up.
One of the really fun parts of the movie was the amount attention brought to the "games" played by the children in this rural Buddhist community. Even though we may or may not have played any of these games, we all have those games of our childhood, like marbles or paper-football, which brought on all those nostalgic feelings. Another thing I remembered as a youth were the movies, as well as another thing about going to movies as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s in Hawaii, sneakin’ in food!
I mean, especially in a week long film festival; how much popcorn and hot dogs can you eat? As a kid we used to sneak in Spam Musubis, arare, or something similar. Mom wouldn’t let me bring anything that the theater served, in her words, "they have to make money, and a living too". In my early twenties, we all brought our jackets when we went to the movies, even when it was almost 90 degrees, and 100% humidity. Why? Well, we’d tie up the sleeves and you could fit 3 bottles of beer in each sleeve…..hehehe! Better watch when you stand though, you might knock those bottles down; and you’d be soooo busted! Careful when you open those bottles too! Psssst…..
Nowadays, after we burn out from the popcorn and hot dogs, we’re more apt to go with maybe
the arare, or maybe roasted chestnuts or mochi, for the Missus. And no, we don’t do the dried cuttlefish, or other snacks that smell, or make alot of noise…..
Also, can’t forget those Haw Flakes for the Missus:
Though we have an all time favorite sneak in. All you need to see is this:
So we’ll drive through and pick up a couple of burgers from In-N-Out, and seal the bag well, and stash it in the Missus purse. Better than those cheese whiz nacho’s, no? We don’t bring them to movies that are too crowded though. A few movies ago, we opened up our burgers, and heard a whisper from above go; "Hey, who’s eating A Double-Double?" I never knew the smell was so distinctive! Hehehehe – giggle….. And no we still don’t sneak in anything the theatre will have, think I’ll have some Kappa-maki tomorrow…..
Open wide:
So what do you sneak in? I know you do it………
Kirk–
Oh, great question. I have snuck in everything from the popcorn (I know they sell it there, but mine’s not made from genetically modified corn and it has real butter) to burritos, sushi, salad, and soup (which I definitely don’t recommend in a dark theatre!).
That Double-Double looks good. And I love the beer bottles up the sleeves. It’s easier for us women–we just bring a really big purse.
I used to have special “movie purse”. Now, with the kids and the high cost, I have no shame and bring it in a grocery bag! No one has tried to stop me yet! ::quirks an eyebrow::
As a young person, we would go to the drive in and sneak friend in the trunk… =o)
Hi Angie – I agree it’s much easier for women. But burrito’s and soup? How the heck do you eat soup in a movie theatre? Can you imagine coming out with all those stains on your clothes?
Hi Jo – We’re not as brave as you! My friend had a 1976 Imperial – we used to call it the “aircraft carrier”, could fit 3-4 of us little Asian guys in the trunk for the drive-in movie! We got busted at Waialae Drive-In once – too much food (3 pizza’s, bucket of KFC, and some bento’s) in the back seat for 3 guys….
uhhh… guess you were too smart to put it in the trunk huh??? ::laughing:: We had a 60s era (maybe late 50s) Chevy Impala. Wanna hear stories about Puking Pink Ducks?? (As my pastor says, “I wasn’t always saved!”)
Hi Jo – No room in the trunk – too many guys….plus they would’ve eaten it all!
LOL ! Love the story kirk! I alwyas like how your posts have a theme to them. Sneaking food in is always wayyy more fun than pop corn.I managed to sneak in a large 3 scoop sundae once. Another time, I managed to sneak into a normal cinema, my dog magic! ( not that I was going to eat him.) But ever notice how when at home with friends, watching a movie, one will try to re-create the movie experience by microwaving pop corn ?? *ponders*
AAAAhh Haw Flakes! So many memories of my childhood. Being one of the few Asian kids at my elementary school, I actually dealt Haw Flakes to my Caucasian friends…yes, I was a Haw Dealer.
That’s sooo good Kirk LOL
hmmm we used to take anything we could! but you would get kicked out if you had hot food, so bottles of drink, chips, jaffas (my movie fav) etc… The Cinema in randwick is actually reasonable priced if you buy a combo meal with your ticket $5 for a popcorn, drink and a choc top! perfect 🙂 plus they are independtly owned 😉
That’s sooo good Kirk LOL
hmmm we used to take anything we could! but you would get kicked out if you had hot food, so bottles of drink, chips, jaffas (my movie fav) etc… The Cinema in randwick is actually reasonable priced if you buy a combo meal with your ticket $5 for a popcorn, drink and a choc top! perfect 🙂 plus they are independtly owned 😉
What are Haw Flakes? I’m tempted to buy them just because of the packaging but I figure with my luck the contents of these lovely little packets would be disks of dried talapia or something equally questionable…
Never mind, just Googled it. Hawthorne fruit leathers… NOW I can try some!
Hi Rachel – An ice cream sundae?? That’s amazing! So did you dress Magic up like a little old lady or something? Sounds almost like something someone would do on a dare!
Hi Elmo – You should make your own movie – “I was a Teenage Haw Pusher!”
Hi Clare – Five bucks is cheap – popcorn and such is great, but we get “tired” of it after a while.
Hi Jo – Enjoy! :o)
that’s hilarious kirk. i just mentioned cuttlefish jerky and haw flakes. The essentials for any chinese movie-goer.
Hi Dylan – Yes, I saw that in your post. I kinda lay off on the cuttlefish though….the smell freaks people out. I was wondering; you must be able to make cup a’ noodles at the movies, right?
Mmmm, yum – In N Out! I bring my own microwave popcorn into the theater and bottled water. A full drive-thru meal is something I never considered, but I love the idea!
Hi Beth – I’m quite amazed at what some people have brought into the theatre – soup, ice cream sundae, burrito’s – just simply amazing!
I think we don’t go often enough to get tired of it…. *sigh*
Hi Clare – It mostly happens when we attend multi-day film festivals like this one!
Kirk,
hehe magic weighs about 7.5 kgs so hes not a very big dog. I put him in a tote bag and brought him in on my shoulder. He is very good and doesn’t make a sound even though there are ‘scary noises’ in the movie. I have snuck him into uni lectures as well as to church (!) At uni one time he sneezed really loudly and my tutor looked up and said “bless you” and my whole class roared with laughter as they knew it was my dog !!
Hi Rachel – Magic sounds so well behaved! My Sammy would be all over everything. And he behaved well at Church too!
What sort of dog is sammy??? any chance of a dog pic ?
Hi Rachel – Sammy the black one is a Schoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle mix), and Frankie, the white one is a Schnauzer/Bichon mix, they’re both spoiled brats:
I’ve got some pic’s here:
http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/08/ez_take_out_bur.html#comments
http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/06/roasted_beef_te.html#comments
http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/07/baklava_and_a_w.html#comments
And of course we can’t forget Pepper – who Jo adopted:
http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/07/road_trip_torra.html#comments
Nope! Can’t forget Pepper! ::laughing:: with his farts… nope, you CAN’T forget Pepper!
Hi Jo – But he’s a loveable fart machine!!!