Clerks turns 30!
I could definitely relate.
This cult classic had its theatrical release on October 19, 1994.
“Clerks” is a 1994 black-and-white comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith (a/k/a “Silent Bob”) in his feature directorial debut. It is often regarded as a cult classic and a landmark in independent filmmaking. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Source: Wikipedia.org
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun...
Lyrics from “Time” by Pink Floyd
The film follows Dante Hicks, a young man who works as a retail clerk at Quick Stop Groceries in Leonardo, New Jersey. Around the same time, as 1994 fell over into 1995, I also was young [21 y/o] and life was long, mostly in a good way, but not always. My days were spent at various job sites and warehouses. Nights [and most of my money] were spent at bars and clubs, or with [on] my guitars.
And, while 1994 provided me with some crazy adventures and good times, my life was becoming stuck in a rut; a state of suspended adolescence. Even though I really enjoyed playing the guitar and was learning more and more, I remained angry that my knee was wrecked at the end of high school and that my visions of soccer at the next level were gone. In turn, my outlook still reflected a mixture of bitterness and futility, hostility and hubris; personal traits that prevent personal growth…
That being said, I could appreciate the dialogue between Dante and his best friend Randall who worked at the video rental store next door, as my friends and I often engaged in the same kinds of philosophical discussions they had while killing time at the store.
“Empire” had the better ending. I mean, Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader’s his father, Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. It ends on such a down note. I mean, that’s what life is, a series of down endings. All “Jedi” had was a bunch of Muppets.
- Dante Hicks
Earlier in the film, Dante and his on-again, off-again girlfriend (Veronica) had a conversation behind the store counter regarding Dante's current disposition (and a certain other topic); basically, Dante was also in a rut; he had no motivation to change or to quit his job and go back to college. Fortunately, I came to realize that life would only get harder if I didn’t get my s@#% together; working lower-wage labor and construction jobs do not offer a more promising future. So, as 1996 approached, it was time to grow up, punch my ticket, and board the “crazy train” to the next phase of life. My first stop would be a return to college to earn a degree in Business Administration, graduating with Distinction and a GPA north of 3.8; a bona fide “smart” a$s.
We will almost certainly be faced with adversity, and unfortunately in some cases, tragedy and heartbreak. How each of us address these situations or events, is a personal journey that hopefully results in recovery, and even, growth. Said differently, life is mostly a series of down endings, focus on the happy ones; that sounds like something Randall would say...
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