Borges' Scottish Adventure: A Blind Writer's Quirky 1970s Road Trip

'Borges and Me' is a new film that tells the story of a unique journey through Scotland in the early 1970s. The movie is based on the real-life experiences of Jay Parini, who was a student at the University of St Andrews in 1971. Jay was asked to look after Jorge Luis Borges, a famous Argentinian writer who was blind. Borges was known for his short stories, essays, and poems, and he loved books and libraries. During their trip, Jay and Borges visited several places in Scotland, including the Carnegie Library. There, Borges asked Jay to show him some books. Jay brought him the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Borges started licking the book, which surprised the librarian. This funny and strange moment stayed with Jay for the rest of his life.

The film is adapted from Jay Parini's memoir, also called 'Borges and Me. ' It was shot entirely in Scotland, using local actors and crew. The movie premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Jay Parini, who was born in Pennsylvania and later became a writer and professor, said that his years in Scotland changed his life. He met many important Scottish writers and poets, such as George Mackay Brown and Alastair Reid. Reid was the person who introduced Jay to Borges and started their unusual road trip. Borges was supposed to stay with Reid, but when Reid had to leave for a family emergency, Jay was asked to take care of Borges instead. Jay admitted that he was nervous at first because he did not know much about Borges.

During their journey, Borges liked to imagine that he was Don Quixote, a character from a famous Spanish novel, and that Jay was his companion, Sancho Panza. Borges even named their car Rocinante, after Don Quixote's horse. The director of the film, Marc Turtletaub, said he was excited to work with Scottish actors like Alan Cumming and Peter Mullan. Jay Parini found it strange but interesting to see actors play people from his past. The film is more than just a road trip story. It is about learning to see the world differently and discovering your own creativity. Both Jay and the director hope the movie will remind people of the importance of literature and Scotland's role in the world of writing. They were happy to see that many people in Scotland still know and love Borges and the other writers mentioned in the film.