One of the channels was showing Pretty Woman last weekend. I've seen the movie at least 50 times (no, I'm not ashamed, btw), and every time I find something new to appreciate. This viewing reminded me of how movies can transmit even smallest of cultural nuances so effectively.In this particular scene, Richard Gere finds Vivian (Goddess Julia) in the bathroom, and thinks that she's doing drugs. She reveals a small thing in her hand, and he realizes that it's dental floss. She says something like she has strawberry seeds in her teeth, and that you shouldn't neglect your gums. He apologizes, and leaves her to continue flossing.
Now here's the thing: It was 1990, I was 16, I've never heard of dental floss, and the concept of taking care of gums wasn't an ultimate priority. About 4-5 years prior to that, I fell off the stairs and broke the front two upper teeth, and have been sporting fake teeth ever since. But there was Julia with her blinding smile, and citing the usefulness of a piece of string.
3 years later, I finally landed at Bard. The first trip to the shopping mall, guess what I bought at Grand Union?
P.S. I was telling this story to Gabrielle, and she mentioned that she was in southern India for work, and couldn't find dental floss there. Oral-B, think of the untapped market you're ignoring. Fly Julia here, pronto!
