"Far from Yokohama"
A Japanese couple traveled to the United States and wanted to stop in Memphis to see Graceland (Mitsuko) and Sun Studio (Jun). The song Train, Train was playing as they travel to Memphis and listened to their walkmans. As there trip was cut short by 2 days by miscalculation on their part their adventure began.Jun, whom portrayed not to like Elvis wore his hair dressed similar to that of Elvis. Jun, was so cool in character that he didn't show facial emotions. Mitsuko, dressed 80's ish and wore a black jacket with Mister Baby on it. Upon arrival to the train station they both made comparison of their home to Memphis. Mitsuko, that it was just beautiful and looked antique, Jun thought it just looked to modern. In this story I picked up on the wasteline which was the car dump and Charlie with a fishing pole outside of his barbershop (Fisher King). As they called it quits for a night they find the Arcade Hotel. While lodging there Mitsuko dicovered how the Middle Eastern Preist, Budda, Madonna and the Statue of Liberty all looked like Elvis or had some sort of connection. Mitsuko last attempt to make Jun looks happy she puts on red lipstick and kiss him which made him look like a clown instead of happy. Mitsuko also made a statement that caught my attention when Jun was telling her to wake up she said"When you dead you will never get to sleep again" but must people say "I'll sleep when I am dead. While visiting the Sun Studio, the tour guide was a fast southern city talker.
"A Ghost"
A Italian lady who just lost her husband was trying to get him back home but their flight was delayed so she had to spend the night in Memphis. One thing that I notice when she was on the phone was her armpit hair, OMG is that a culture thing, not to shave your arms? Just asking.
As her journey began she was hit with every aspect of Memphis life downtown from being hustled to buy things she didn't need, pickup lines, being harrassed, and followed. Luisa is a kind-hearted person, she gave the man that conned her money to leave her alone (money is all he wanted) and the store clerk who kept trying to sell her things she didn't need or want and brought them anyway, shecompliments the bellman on his hat (which his boss made fun of) and she also was kind enough to slit a room with a total stranger. From all the excitement she had that day she saw the ghost of Elvis. The lady from New Jersey talks too much, who was feeing from her boyfriend.
"Lost in Space"
Englishman, Johnny gets drunk at a nightbar after losing his job, shots a store owner and flee to keep from getting caught. In this story is shows the prejudice in Memphis when the store owner made the comment "Niggas got to watch them". One of the funny parts I notice when they were in the truck drinking after each other they all wiped the top of the bottom off before drinking except Will. Upon arrival to the hotel Charlie also is drunk and dropped the bottle of liquior and the hotel clerk that Charlie that he was cursed which gave an indication that something was about to happen to Charlie. Now, I know why there's broken glass all in the streets downtown because that's where the bellman threw the broken glass he swept up (just kidding). When they got to the room Charlie also broke the light. Charlie also learns that Johnny isn't his brother and gets upset because he was drugged into this mess. Johnny tries to commit suicide over the situation with losing his job and girlfriend, when Charlie tries to stop him, he gets shot in the leg.
A funny part in this story which is normal true when own of the guys asked why is there a picture of Elvis hanging up if black people runs it, Will told him people worked there but didn't owned it. Would a white person work in that neigborhood? Not enough the owner would. These 3 men stuck together to get out of a crime that one committed and eventually gets away when they thought the police was after them.
Similiarities in all stories were the Arcade hotel, in the 1st and 2nd story one of the characters stands and looks out the window, the same music is playing because it's all happening at the same time. Elvis is on the wall in every room. All these represent people in Memphis and people who visit Memphis even if it's tourist from other countries to visit landmarks, someone who is just passing through to the people that lives their everyday lives here.
Yes it is a culture thing. Most European women do not shave their arms or legs. The newer generation seems to embrace shaving more than the older one, but it's not uncommon in Europe to see women at the beach as hairy as the men.
ReplyDelete