Wednesday 3 October 2012

30 Years Ago

30 years ago I saw a movie for the first time in my life. I was 6 years old at the time when my parents chose to introduce me to this medium, and the experience of cinema magic changed my life forever.

It was the year 1982.

I have loved movies ever since BECAUSE of that film, and it probably was the reason I chose to become a filmmaker, if I am honest with myself.

That film remains my most favourite movie of all time, still to this day. I wholeheartedly believe it's a lesson in visual and narrative storytelling. Each time I watch it I marvel at its passion, its emotional impact and simplicity of form that all deeply affect me, like I'm watching it for the first time.

Tonight, 30 years later, I got to see it on the big cinema screen again for the second time, on its celebratory 1-day re-release in honour of its transition to BluRay.

Tonight, again, I got all of the goosebumps and the smiles and the giggles and the tears I got the first time I saw it, back when I was 6.

You gotta love that.

I have waited 30 years for this moment, so if that's not true love, I don't know what is.

Welcome back, E.T., though for me you have always been

...right here...