Finally 17!: A Young Film Buff's Relief

[C.A. Hall]

Anyone wanna talk about what a relief it was to turn 17 as a film buff?

I was actually disappointed when the usually strict local cinema neglected to ask for my I.D. when I requested a ticket to see either Nurse Betty or The Way of the Gun. If they had asked for it then I'm sure my smile would have given away my new age before the cashier could inspect my license.

However, I wasn't totally free from the fear of restriction until I turned 18, because at the time NC-17 movies like Requiem for a Dream were still being produced. Fortunately the cashier at a theater that was two bus trips away failed to do her job, because I would have hated sneaking into the theater or leaving home without seeing the film at all.