Cine Film Magic

Cine Film Magic

Cine is usually used to refer to one or more of the home movie formats including 8 mm, 9.5 mm, 16 mm film, and Super 8. It is not generally used to refer to video formats or professional formats (such as 35mm or 70mm film).
Cine film literally means ‘moving’ film; deriving from the Greek ‘kine’ for motion; it also has roots in the Anglo-French word Cinematograph, meaning moving picture.
Cine started the expanding revolution of ‘play at home’ movies.
Cine film started out expensive, but as it became cheaper the format started the craze of home recording. 50-foot reels were purchased for recording important events such as weddings and funerals.
However, sales started to decline in the early 1970s with the introduction of 16mm film. (Wikipedia)

This blog post is inspired by The Oliver’s Madhouse Magic Moments linky! And it is a perfect time for me to link up, as this weekend has been filled with a million magic moments. Magic family moments.

My mum lives over two hours away and I sadly don’t get to see her as much as I (or my children!) would like. I’ve mentioned her several times in previous blog posts and even though at times our relationship hasn’t been perfect (namely when I was a sh***y teenager!) we have always had immense fun when together, chatting endlessly, catching up on all of our news, whilst my three children get so unbelievably over excited and crazy that we end up having to shout over them. And now that my 11 year old daughter is on the verge of becoming a sh***y teenager herself I’m beginning to understand what I put my mum though. Endless backchat, pushing the boundaries, testing the limits. I’ve been having a difficult time with my daughter in recent weeks and have regularly doubted my parenting ability and at times my instincts. Our relationship has suffered and we’ve been struggling to connect. But this weekend was going to turn out to be a magical one for both of us. One where we both became a bit more understanding of each other. All thanks to some very old cine film, which my mum has recently had transferred to DVDs.

When I was growing up my dad (who sadly passed away 14 years ago) very often had a cine film camera (not sure what they are actually called!) or video camera in his hand. At the time, my brother and I were regularly made to walk, hand in hand, towards the camera, waving and smiling as we did so. We were filmed from the day we were born up until my dad passed away when I was 22. Birthdays, Christmases, holidays. All there on silent film. Magic moments scanning 22 magical years.

My 11 year old had recently been asking about my childhood, about what I was like as a child, and a teenager. She had asked to see photos and to hear stories. So instead of getting out all of my old diaries (which are cringeworthingly embarrassing) we decided to sit down after the little ones had gone to bed and watch the old films. Films I hadn’t seen for over a decade. It’s amazing the little things that I remember from my childhood, a toy at Christmas, an over sized bobble hat. We all smiled watching the films, we all laughed, and we all cried. Mum and I saw things we’d completely forgotten about, and things we remembered as if they had happened yesterday. My daughter was completely fascinated. For once she was silent, glued to the television. Amazed that there were no mobile phones, no iPads, and no awareness of health and safety whatsoever!!!

And then the 11 year old me appeared on the screen. Out for a family walk and yet not wanting to walk anywhere. I looked at my facial expression and knew I’d seen it somewhere else. On the beautiful face of my daughter. The two of us look very different, but it was amazing to see how similar we really are. The films brought back memories and stories of my teenage years and I suddenly remembered, and in remembering saw life so clearly from her eyes. How difficult the transition to secondary school is. How horrible girls and so called friends can be. And how, as a teenager, attitudes and feelings towards your mum can change. You’re not a grown up but you’re no longer a child and you’re struggling to find yourself and work out who you are. And as my 11 year old watched the films and heard my memories she realised that I’d been there, that I’d done it, and that I knew what I was talking about when I tried to help her through her struggles. It was a wonderful magic moment where we looked at each other and we came back together again as mother and daughter, we became a little closer once more. A bond that was damaged was beginning to mend. It was a magic moment when the difficulties of recent weeks were forgotten and we resolved to work as a team, to not battle against each other. Where we realised we both want the same thing, we both want her to be happy, and confident and know she’s loved. That we both need to trust each other, and to earn that trust.

It was magic because even though my dad is no longer around, he has helped to fix me and my daughter, just like he helped to fix me and my Mum (on more than one occasion) when we argued and fought against each other all those years ago. He’s still working his magic. And that…is possibly the most magical thing of all.

We are back home now and the first thing we have done this morning is dig out our video camera, which is covered in dust and hasn’t seen the light of day for a while. My 11 year old is chief camera lady and we have all resolved to capture our own magic moments on camera. And who knows, maybe one day she will be watching those films with her own daughter, and having their own magic moment together.

14 Comments on Cine Film Magic

  1. Jaime Oliver
    March 25, 2013 at 4:03 pm (11 years ago)

    what a lovely post! i so know where your coming from over the crumbling relationships my daughter is 12 tomorrow and its as if we are stranger. I would give anything for a magic moment like this for us.
    Thanks for linking up with #magicmoments

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      March 25, 2013 at 7:19 pm (11 years ago)

      Pleasure! And you never know, that magic moment might just happen for you one day soon. I hope so anyway x

      Reply
    • instinctivemum
      March 25, 2013 at 7:18 pm (11 years ago)

      I know! My daughter couldn’t quite believe it! 3 yr old was totally flummoxed though and did not understand it at all!

      Reply
  2. Charlie Hughes
    March 29, 2013 at 4:06 pm (11 years ago)

    Lovely post xx I believe that my Mum makes things better from up on high too :0) They still do their magic and are looking out for us even though they may not be here in the physical. Glad you and your daughter are closer again. Special memories to be made once more xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      March 31, 2013 at 5:53 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you for reading, I firmly believe they’re still looking after us, wherever they may be xx

      Reply
  3. Victoria Welton (Vevivos)
    March 30, 2013 at 11:38 am (11 years ago)

    How truly lovely is this? What a wonderful way to realise that you once had the same feelings as your daughter does now. It’s amazing what memories can do. Thank you so much for supporting PoCoLo = and I am honoured to see both PoCoLo and Prose for Thought badges on your sidebar. Thank you xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      March 30, 2013 at 1:01 pm (11 years ago)

      You’re so welcome, feel privileged to be joining in. Thank you so much for reading xx

      Reply
  4. muminahurry
    April 2, 2013 at 3:54 pm (11 years ago)

    I’m crying a little tear reading this. So so lovely. I had a similar experience around Christmas at my parents watching old home videos.

    Reply
    • InstinctiveMum
      April 2, 2013 at 9:12 pm (11 years ago)

      It’s magical isn’t it? We are using our video camera every day now so in years to come my children can do the same! x

      Reply
  5. Sarah MumofThree World
    April 11, 2013 at 8:09 pm (11 years ago)

    What a beautiful post. As the mum of an 11 year old boy who still isn’t properly settled at secondary, it was very familiar. We need to find something like this to help us bond too. Thanks for joining in with the Britmums teen and tween round-up.

    Reply
    • InstinctiveMum
      April 12, 2013 at 7:26 am (11 years ago)

      Pleasure to join up. And this age is so hard, the bond is tested so much. I hope you and your son find something to bond you soon x

      Reply

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