For many, Christmas is a time of familiar traditions and family gatherings. But for one Canadian expat living in London in 2022, the festive season took a decidedly peculiar turn, defined by a bizarre film, an unconventional meal, and the absence of loved ones.
A North London Christmas for Two
The scene was a flat in north London, situated above a chicken shop and grappling with a cockroach infestation. With one flatmate away and having visited Canada the previous month, the author spent Christmas Day 2022 with her remaining Lithuanian flatmate. Determined to mark the occasion, she prepared a small roast chicken, accompanied by Canadian-style stuffing and an experimental brussels sprouts dish with bacon, maple syrup, and parmesan that didn't quite hit the mark. They toasted with prosecco won in a competition, despite neither being fans.
The Bizarre Cinematic Choice
With no living room, the duo set up a projector in the bedroom, perched on desk chairs with their laps as tables. Their viewing choice was the infamous 2003 film, Tiptoes. The movie features Gary Oldman playing a man with dwarfism, largely by walking on his knees, while Matthew McConaughey plays his average-sized twin. Kate Beckinsale stars as the girlfriend kept in the dark about the family's genetic condition.
The author and her best friend back in Canada had a long-standing fascination with the film's notorious reputation, collecting odd trivia such as Beckinsale's insistence on wearing her 'lucky hat'. Watching it, however, the author was struck by its jarring inappropriateness and poor writing, leaving her baffled as to how it was ever made.
Guilt, Fury, and Festive Acceptance
I felt guilty watching it without my best friend, the author admits, a sentiment that turned to fury when she later confessed. Yet, this shared experience of weirdness felt appropriate. Opting for a traditional Christmas film might have heightened the sadness of being away from their families. Instead, a weird film, weird food, and a weird Christmas Day created a unique and bonding alternative celebration for two expats in the city.
The story, originally told to Emine Saner, captures the essence of an unconventional holiday where connection was found not in perfection, but in shared, surreal experience.
