Yesterday after school, we had a lengthy staff meeting which consisted of watching three videos in the auditorium. No doubt, after reading that sentence, you are envisioning me sitting strapped to a chair, with my eyelids taped open -- and that's sort of how it felt, seeing as how they are the same three videos we always have to watch, year after year after year.
But I'm not here to talk about those videos. At least not today -- I may have something to say about them in the next couple of days. And I'm not even here to shamelessly plug my OWN videos.
Today, I'm interested in discussing a film that one of those videos reminded me of; a short film that I saw all the way back when I was in grade school. It was called Cipher in the Snow.
If you have ever seen this movie -- Cipher in the Snow -- PLEASE leave a comment and let me know that I am not the only one who was traumatized thusly as a child!
It was so long ago, that I don't remember ALL of the details of the movie, but the opening scene is really what stands out. A school bus drives down a deserted country lane, surrounded by snow-covered fields. The bus comes to a stop, and the doors open. A kid, around 10 years old, slowly trudges down the steps and out of the bus. He takes a couple of steps away from the bus and then falls on his face in the snow, dead as a door nail.
(Cue the Law and Order sound effect: DUN DUNN!!)
The rest of the movie is a flashback, as I recall, showing the events that led to this nerd's tragic demise. Excuse me, this CIPHER'S tragic demise. You see, the poor, doomed lad was a social outcast -- friend to no one -- and his lack of self-esteem eventually manifested itself as a blood clot the size of an ostrich egg. Or at least, it led to his death.
Yeah, we watched some strange movies at my tiny little elementary school. Between Cipher in the Snow, with its foreboding existentialism, and Peege, with its gratuitous scenes of the old grandmother slowly gumming her chocolate pudding, it's a wonder I can even set foot into a darkened auditorium.
But I really am getting tired of that stupid sexual-harassment video...
12 comments:
Is it the one where the female asst. principal keeps asking the male teacher to do all kinds of stuff for her?
She sits on her desk, with her legs crossed in front of her, and bounces her leg up and down?
I've seen that one 3 or 4 times.
Yep, that's the one. She comes on to that guy, and everybody in the audience goes, "yeeeeeeeccchhhhh."
Is this your Cipher in the Snow? If so...it looks creepy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSXlraw1bqY
OMG-I was gonna ask about the sexual harassment video also. We brought popcorn last time and played along like a Rocky Horror Movie. I think the district needs a new video.
Peege? I can't believe it. I loved Peege. Have you seen the sequel? "A Portrait of Grandpa Doc?"
I love both of those flicks. When I saw the X-Men movies, all I could think was, 'Hey, Senator Kelly is the guy from "Peege!"'
Haven't seen the other one. Do I want to? Sounds like a 'no.'
I WAS scarred by Cipher in the Snow" as a child. I can't believe they're still showing that.
At last, I know I'm not alone. I, too, am an unfortunate individual, forced to watch Cipher in the Snow by a teacher who found it "touching."
Dude, we were told that couple from the video are actually married in real life.
They must have been married for a long time, as there's absolutely no spark between them
Lisa, that's footage from Cipher, but they've adjusted it to make it seem more "Omen"-like.
Don't know Cipher, but when I was a high school freshman, our brand-new principal made us all watch Reefer Madness to keep us away from drugs.
What bizarrely weird timing...I was actually talking about this movie a couple weeks ago with my friend here in LA who had never heard of it. Didn't they show this at St. Maria Goretti? CREEPY.
I watched Cipher in the Snow in seventh grade. So did my brother and both my sisters; they're 9, 10, and 15 years older than me. And that was fourteen years ago. I can't believe it is still in circulation. I guess it will be haunting generations to come...
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