Déjà Vu

by ViTo • January 13, 2007 1 comment

I guess most of you are familiar with that expression. I would say, it reminds me of one of the Matrix scenes, where a déjà vu is linked to a bug in the system. However, this time I’m not referring to the Matrix; all of this is because the new Denzel Washington movie. After watching it, I would have to say it is the typical thriller; with lots of action and a complicated plot which does not make a lot of sense. Nothing extraordinary. I got the chance to watch it for free though, so I’m not going to complain about it. On the contrary, thanks for inviting me to a pre-premiere screening.

Yes, you heard it right. I got to watch the movie before its official release. How did I manage to do that? It’s not like I have a lot of contacts (I have none) or I am in the show biz or something. It turns out that ASUCI (the UCI students association) organizes private screenings once in a while. Again, needless to say they are completely free for students. This time, Marcel, Pol, Allie, Edith and me (I have the feeling I am forgetting someone) were lucky enough to attend the event.

Independently from the quality of the movie, this is going to be one of the mainstream releases this year. And students in UCI got to watch if for free 5 days before the official premiere. I am shocked. I didn’t know universities had those kinds of privileges. Just so you know, this would never happen in any Spanish university.

It was OK, but the best was yet to come… Walking back home we saw this group of people gathered in the street waiting for something to happen. It immediately caught our attention, but didn’t know what to expect. About 5 minutes later, when we were about to leave a group of black people carrying torches arrived. It was a ritual; a weird one, like a tribal thing. Four men, were the focus of attention, dressed in a kind of military uniform they were dancing and chanting all the time. It was a test, an initiation ritual in to get into the AΦA fraternity.

I was shocked to attend an event like this; I was under the impression that these things only happened in the movies, but it turns out that most of the stereotypes I had about America are true. By the way, if it were up to me, the four newbies should make it into the fraternity cause they showed a complete submission for more than half hour.