Text Unit 3 They fell from the sky

What if there were a time when folks just appeared and vanished from the sky.

I went into a room for some reason i could not remember. But somebody knew me and seemed to be expecting me. She greeted me with a smile and gave me a bag with some gifts that were books about films, which made me really happy because I love films. the room became full of people, and one person came and went from an adjoining room with coffee and pastries for everyone. In a corner I saw Marie and Seb. They were just there for some reason and we were all so happy to find ourselves in the same room. It seemed like a slot machine where some unknown person pulls a lever and BOOM, you are in a different place with other people from Manila, Paris, New York or Toronto. It was understood there would be an important event later where we would meet again, and one by one, we all vanished again.

The event happened in another room where we all faced forward. One, two and three operas were performed, but it went by fast. The third opera was performed by a crying woman who did not sing but made us feel like singing. At one point she opened her mouth in a single, devastating gesture. All the sorrow in the world was released and let go. And though it was heartbreaking to watch we were grateful for her to free us from sadness, and we thanked her with applause.

After we left the room. We gathered in a circle and drank our hearts out, laughing at the joy of the present moment. In this room people fell from the sky to join us for a while before ascending again. Gradually everyone was gone, and i took a taxi home with my man, C.C. and dear dear Paul rowley, who fell from New York. With a quiet, drunken joy we rode home and talked of films. At my flat we ate fried chicked and cous cous.

In recollecting all this I realize that one of the functions of a film festival is to build community, or several communities. these appearances and vanishings put before my eyes so many people I love. Relationships are formed, dissolved and reformed. We look at the screen and an opera lets go of all the sadness in the world. This is our work, to make and recieve visions of communities amongst ourselves and place ourself in engagement with the world we live in.

I spoke of in this cryptic unit getting my accreditation, watching Tre Puccini, going to the opening of the Forum Expanded, seeing dear friends again, getting drunk and watching folks in elevators.