Have You Got One? Or Two? Or Three?

Film relics. If you’re a true movie fan, cinephile, movie follower, cinema-goer, aficionado, devotee, enthusiast, adherent, or addict, then someplace in your personal universe you’ve got at least one film relic. Something from a film that you thought was sooo cool you had to pay real money for it and display it for your personal satisfaction (and sometimes public criticism). Maybe it’s a picture of your favorite character, or a prop, or a poster of your favorite movie. Within films, things take on meaning in order to tell their stories; in our lives, things from films take on meaning for us: they remind us where were we when we saw it, when was it, who we were with; they offer a touchstone from a moment when maybe we discovered something about ourselves or something else; give us a remembrance of some small epiphany; remind us when we found a small truth that added to our lives. Maybe you have a holy grail of film relics that if you just had enough money or just had enough connection with the right people you could get your hands on -- one which you would display prominently over your widescreen tv which enables you to watch movies in their most pristine, closest- to- film-experience- we- can- get- at- home glory. Mine? Easy. A prop rifle from PLANET OF THE APES. But until I get my hands on that one, I guess this one will have to be my crown jewel, an accidental movie relic I acquired with the help of my son.