Frustration

You know, for the most part, I'm a nice gal.

I'm friendly; I smile at random people; I pretend to care when someone drones on and on about how cute their child is or how fantastic their new car is or how hot their boyfriend is; I laugh at jokes even if they aren't that funny.

Seriously -- being nice is in my blood.

And I try my hardest not to bitch and whine and complain all the time, because I certainly don't want to be known as 'that girl.' Everyone knows a 'that girl,' and generally, she's not very pleasant to be around, is she?

Well, I'm sure even the Pope is allowed a shitty day every now and again, so please allow me mine. Not that I had a shitty day, mind you. Not at all, actually. But still, I do have something to complain about, and now that I'm back to blogging -- y'know, the Mother Of All Places To Bitch & Rant -- I can get it off my chest and you can all nod in agreement.

Because, really, why would you ever not agree with me?

== begin rant==

So, dad's screening was today. The SMS I got inviting me to the event, as well as the several people I had spoken to regarding the ceremony, said that it would begin at 730pm. In Kuwait, that usually means it would begin anytime between 815 and 845. So when I pulled up at 804pm, I wasn't worried that I'd missed THAT much.

As luck would have it, I walked in about 45 minutes into dad's film. Bizarre that they'd started so early, yet also fascinating. I didn't think much of it and took my seat and began watching.

I've seen the footage a thousand times and could practically quote the film at you, but at this screening, I couldn't hear a single word. Not because the volume was low or the quality was shitty. Nuh uh -- it was because the organizers had the sound turned up to a ludicrous level. When we were watching the MPs screaming and the protesters rallying, and when there were scenes with music or the narrator was narrating, I thought my ears were going to explode, it was so loud.

Did the organizers not for a second think to maybe, oh, I dunno.. turn it down a notch?

Fine, fine. Maybe I'm overreacting and I have sensitive ears and everybody else was hearing clearly and just fine.

What really irks me to no end is what happens at the end of what seems to be every film screening in this country, whether it's being held in private or being played in public theaters.

For the love of all things holy, people... WAIT UNTIL THE FILM IS FINISHED BEFORE TURNING THE LIGHTS ON, FADING TO BLACK AND RUSHING PEOPLE TO DINNER!

Why, why, WHY don't people understand this concept? WHY are we in such a rush to get to the buffet table, which is usually filled to the brim with crap food anyway? WHY won't you let the credits roll? In fact, in this particular case, WHY didn't you even let the film end??

The last scene of this film is probably one of the most important, but me and the 50+ others that were watching didn't get a chance to see it. Because with about five minutes to go before the movie actually ended and the credits begin to roll, the organizers slowly started to undim the lights and fade out the sound of the film. I couldn't quite understand what was going, but as it got brighter and brighter in the room, I remember thinking to myself, "Wait, wait... I'm sure they're not actually going to STOP the movie."

They stopped the movie.

Before the final scene. Before it ended. Before the credits rolled.

Even the audience seemed a little confused. At least, I hope they were confused and not thinking, "Huh? Wha? I wonder why Mr. Al-Zuhair chose to end his film like that."

And that's just the film.

After that, they began the official 'honoring' ceremony, and half the time we couldn't hear the names of the people cause the 'background' music was too loud, and the other half of the time, we couldn't hear their names because the girl presenting wasn't speaking directly into the microphone.

Good times.

Then the awkwardness. Maram walked out in her shiny pants and furry vest and very complicated boots to perform (why is it always Maram that performs at these events, anyway? I'm asking in all seriousness. Is she like, really beloved in this country? I'm serious. Someone explain this woman to me). I happened to be near the stage when she walked in, and I saw her give the most evil eye to the dudes in charge of her music. She had a smile plastered to her face (in case of photos, I presume), but death in her eyes.

"3alow il9ot. 3ALOW IL9OT!" she whispered through gritted teeth.

So, they did what she asked and 3alow il9ot.

Which is why we couldn't hear a word of what she was singing. The sound was too loud again.

OY.

Then everyone was rushed to dinner (again?? I dunno, maybe we weren't asked to go to dinner the first time. But I could've sworn we were).

Gah. It was just so messy and awkward and not professional and nothing like any social event that takes place anywhere else in the world.

And I'm not blaming those responsible. I seriously think this is a default burned deep into our psyches. When dad's first film was being shown around the country, the SAME THING happened during certain screenings.

Volume levels distorted; lights up and sound off before end of film; rushrushrush! to dinner.

Awkward. Uncomfortable. Painful.

That's how I've begun to feel about most social gatherings in this country.

== end rant==

So... yeah. How about a joke?

Q: ga6wa dashat 9aydaliya, laish?
A: ilbab kan imba6al.

N.
"Frustration is the poor man's violence."