I love secrets, largely because I'm quite good at keeping them. Just ask Pru Harris* from my year 7 class, who had a major crush on Benji Ward all year, even though he already had a girlfriend. I never told a soul. Never.
So you could imagine my excitement for the hugely popular World Movies' Secret Cinema screening last weekend. Without knowing what the movie was or where the screening would be, the session sold out within mere minutes. Every few days in the week prior I was texted a clue as to where I might be going and what I might be doing. I'd pore over each missive with anyone nearby.
''Be prepared for anything … maybe get a little dirty'', read the first clue.
Ok, dirty. Dirty movies. Dirty Harry? Any Pedro Almodovar movie that sounds overtly anatomical?
A few days later, the second text arrived: ''Be ready to be taken to one of Sydney's best-kept secrets.''
Sunday morning, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. ''Meet at the north end of King St Wharf … Find the school girls. Wear comfy shoes and warm clothes - game on!''
All rugged up, I sweatily cut a path down to Wharf 1. Surely enough, two schoolgirls were skipping rope, greeting moviegoers with a ''Konichiwa'' as we boarded a waiting boat. Each ticket holder was given a bag with a water bottle, raincoat, and a (toy) weapon.
Our secret destination became apparent - Goat Island. Waiting ashore were taiko drummers and a ninja, darting in and out of some bushes. Broken up into groups, we followed a trail through a martial arts class, pop-up bars, a noodle bar, a burlesque performance, a gory photo shoot and, finally, a temporary cinema. The final clue - Yan Yans, a Japanese biscuit treat.
The opening titles rolled, and a huge cheer went up as gory high school thriller Battle Royale began.
As the sun set on Sydney Harbour, I clutched my Yan Yans, my sword and my glass, and enjoyed the fruits of my battle.
* Names probably should have been changed to protect the innocent. Oh well.
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