By Sara
Taking a page from the "When in Rome..." playbook, I have been thrilled to discover the abundance and variety of cheap dvds here-- in fact, as far as I can tell, pirated movies are the only ones available in Syria. They're sold in regular looking shops, in plain view. What's more, there's no waiting around for movies in the theater to be released on dvd- that's for chumps. I bought myself a copy of the new "Hairspray" (anyone watching John Travolta in drag, however, has no business calling others chumps) the other day for 100 sp ($2.00), the price of every movie at that shop.
I was very glad to have it on hand yesterday when I was bedridden with some sort of food poisoning, which had struck Eric the day before. As I dizzily made my way to the couch to fire up the Mac for some movie watching, I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to not have to wait in line at a multiplex and pay $11.00 to see the movie- that is until I started watching. Shot with a dv camera in the movie theater during a showing, you can hear audience laughter and actually see shadows of people walking in front of the camera going to and from their seats. At one point, the video shooter actually goes and tells an elderly-seeming man to move out of the way and helps him to his seat as he appears to have forgotten where he was seated during a bathroom break.
I don't think this experience will stop me from buying dvd's-- Eric just ordered the first two seasons of the Sopranos- but I at least now I know what to expect. Moral of the story-- you get what you pay for.
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