Relatively Speaking

Everything’s relative. While I wouldn’t balk at spending more than £200 on a pair of well made shoes, I wouldn’t spend £12 on a DVD. Sound crazy? Well it is a bit nuts. But think about it. Ever since I started obtaining all my DVD’s via my good friend Mr. Rent (first name: Bitto), even spending the most miniscule amount on a DVD is too much for me. My mind says, “£3?! You could go home and download it for free ask your mate for a copy”.

But sometimes my relative cheapness comes back to bite me. Last week, I came across a film by Shirley Clarke called ‘portrait of Jason’. The first thing I noticed was that this dude was quite a snappy dresser, the second was the price – £12 – so I passed. Went home to ask my good friend Mr. Rent, but he didn’t have it. And the now the cheapest price I can find anywhere is £12. Just my luck.

I might have to just spend the money though, the film looks to have far more going for it than just his dress sense. The film is basically one long interview, something never done before at it’s time of release, focusing on the life of hustler Jason Holiday. Holiday was also black and gay, two things which really weren’t looked upon favourably (to put it extremely mildly) in the sixties.

I would tell you more, but I need to cough up £12 first.