A funny thing happened on the way to scratching one more off the watchlist…

I had plans on braving the heat two nights ago and catching an outdoor screening of PARIS JE T’AIME alone at Harbourfront here in the city. (Not to The Locals: if you do want to be outdoors but don’t want to dehydrate in sixty seconds, the waterfront makes for a nicely breezy respite). Lo and behold, midday didn’t my phone start buzzing with a friend offering her company.

So as we settled into a (surprisingly packed) screening and indulged in the Parisian goodness, I suddenly felt a funny feeling wash over me. The feeling was one of being out of place.

Here I was watching story after story of different types of love, each of them dedicated to a different region of a city I’ve never been to but have long wanted to see. For a few moments I felt myself beginning to drown in thoughts of the left bank, Claude Monet, and Bande a Parte. Seriously folks, I was *this* close to Gil Pender territory.

But then something unexpected happened. A big play must have unfolded at The Rogers Centre, because the crowd erupted with cheers. And even though the stadium is a solid three or four city blocks from the screening, with the roof open the sound carries pretty well. Suddenly I was yanked out of my daydreams and acutely aware that I was sitting on a bench in Toronto. The CN Towers blinking lights winked in my periphery…the seagulls echoed in my ears.

I oddly felt like a fraud – like the person who only yanks a team’s jersey out of mothballs when they make the semi-finals. It was the direct contrast that brought this up: that I was enjoying something designed to celebrate summer in my city, but all the while focusing on another city. I felt like I was on a date with another woman but “thinking about her the whole time”.

Clearly, this wouldn’t have happened in a cinema – nor of course at home on the comfort of my couch. While I did of course dearly love the film, it was an odd experience all around, and one I never could have seen coming. I’m sure it will pass though – my next scheduled outdoor screening involves Muppets.

I’m certain I can immerse myself in that film without feeling any geographical infidelity.