The Rich Detours of "nevertheless"
"Netflix and Amazon Prime are far cheaper, and you don’t have to worry about late fees if you forget to return them." Most people would likely agree. Yet, I still choose to visit the local video rental shop for DVDs. That space taught me an important lesson: within our limitations, we discover how to live more fully. I would like to share a brief story from our household.
I also relied on streaming services. However, the constant availability made it easy to disengage from cinema and daily life. My daughter became absorbed by the screen, spending far more time watching television than playing outside. Although this gave me time for housework, I soon realized I no longer understood what truly interested her.
As I considered a change, a dispute over the television arose in our family. Competing demands replaced laughter in our living room. This prompted me not to renew our streaming subscription.
The following weekend, we visited a video rental shop for the first time in years. The shop, though smaller than before, retained its early 2000s atmosphere. Browsing the aisles and reading DVD synopses was both nostalgic and refreshing. In contrast, smartphones and laptops can create the illusion of unlimited knowledge and access.
Standing in the shop, I realized I could never watch every film available, no matter how long I lived. This was a clear reminder of the Socratic paradox: recognizing one's own ignorance. The rows of DVDs seemed to ask how many more films I would truly experience in my lifetime.
My daughter joined me that day, and together we selected films for the week—some to watch together, some individually. As we browsed, she shared which animations and films were popular at her school, and I listened with interest. Discovering films based on their cover art sparked enjoyable conversations, a joy that streaming algorithms cannot replicate.
We had two weeks before the DVDs were due back. This deadline encouraged me to engage with the films more deeply. I chose Christopher Nolan’s Memento, which I had not seen in twenty years. Its complex plot resonated with new meaning, and its exploration of photography was especially impactful.
Now, our weekends include a visit to the video rental shop, followed by a stop at a tea room for a matcha parfait.
While streaming services are more affordable and convenient, we do not see our trips as a burden. Instead, the effort involved has revealed a value that money cannot buy.
amandla