A Movie Experience

Last night I attended the premiere of the film “The Silver Mirror”, written, directed and produced by Ali Habashi, based at the University of Miami. The film is about aging and mortality and is a marvelous film in many ways. It was my first visit to the UM campus in many months and the Cosford theater is near the building in which the philosophy department is located. Various university bigwigs were present. I went with my wife. I attended because the director personally asked me to. Why? Because I was myself in the film—not as someone aging (!) but because I contributed to the panel discussion that was part of the film. It was extremely odd to sit and watch myself in that environment, all the while conscious that I had been forced from my position at the university less than a year ago. Many in the audience were aware that this was the situation, and some may have been instrumental in bringing it about. There was a palpable tension in the air.

            Afterwards, at the reception, various members of the audience approached me to congratulate me on my contribution (a philosopher among scientists), asking me if I were a teacher at UM. This was awkward, as I had to inform them that I had been (effectively) dismissed from the university for reasons that I found entirely bogus. Looks of incredulity ensued. Was I trying to be funny? I assured them that it was true and that they could consult that day’s Slate for an account of the matter. So there I was, a “star” of the film (the director’s description, not mine), attending its premiere at a university from which I had recently been removed. Does anyone think this is a good thing? Was it really warranted?