Distractions

It might be easier to deal with if it were a straightforward medical problem. Or attributable to genetics. Not that I would wish on myself all-out attention deficit disorder, popping Ritalin to keep me in line. But being easily distracted has its challenges. Very early this morning I received an email from a friend in Hong Kong. It made my day, but destroyed all my earnest plans for those Sisyphus-like activities laid out before me.

I was asked a simple question. “When will Though I am Gone be screened at the imminent Vancouver Film Festival.?” Like Alice, I tumbled into a cyber hole that lead me into another world. Not that the question was complex. I expect to discover the answer tomorrow when film festival offices are open for business.

Ever-curious I wanted to know the name of the filmmaker. Which led me to a wonderful interview which Shen Rui conducted with compassionate historian and film director Hu Jie (胡杰). He yearns to know the real and recent history of his country, China. He is a searcher after the truth, and a compassionate visual chronicler. In many ways apolitical, his films are more of a scourage to the establishment than those of a confrontational sort.

So today has been all about Hu Jie. I was willingly hijacked from the role of Hercules, and left King Augeas’ litter a-lying about me while I immersed myself in the fresh air of Hu’s story, so ably translated by Ms. Shen. And found his film on Youtube, albeit in ten segments. Now, later in the day, some seem to have disappeared. And all are blocked in China apparently.

Christopher Columbus is quoted as saying By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination. Look where that got him! And me? Well my distraction may get me into even more uncharted waters. Time will tell.