Chapter 47: Beer is More My Style

The term Mormonism is not accurate. The correct term for it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with its headquarters located in Salt Lake City.

In fact, Salt Lake City was built by early church members who believed their faith could create a new society, which is pretty remarkable in the context of world urban development.

Two of the most well-known practices linked to this faith are their history of polygamy and their strict rules: no smoking, no drinking, no drugs, and no gambling.

Ironically, some of the most rebellious and free-spirited filmmakers gather in this conservative environment for the Sundance Film Festival.

So naturally, alcohol becomes a rare commodity, and missing it feels even more painful after a night of wild celebration.

To say there's no alcohol at all would be an exaggeration. There's beer in front of Evan Bell—sort of. If you look closely, most of it is non-alcoholic or so weak that it's like chocolate milk spiked with a tiny bit of liquor.

There are only a few stores in Salt Lake City authorized to sell alcohol, and they all close by 10 p.m. Finding a bar here? Impossible. The same goes for Park City, which operates under the same rules as Salt Lake City.

So it wasn't surprising when Ryan Gosling couldn't find beer on the shelf. Evan had forgotten this when he arrived two days ago, even dragging his brother, Teddy, to look for a bar.

They ended up wandering around Salt Lake City aimlessly for hours before Evan remembered—this was the headquarters of the LDS Church.

But let's face it, a party without alcohol is hardly a party. At Sundance, though, they find loopholes.

On Park City's Main Street, there are houses that host private parties, serving everything from red wine to vodka—and all for free.

At yesterday's opening reception, Evan even spotted 93-proof absinthe. But there's a catch: drinking is only allowed inside the house.

If you take your drink outside, the local police will arrest you on the spot. So, in its own strange way, it still feels like a carnival.

As Evan and Ryan walked out of the supermarket, Evan pointed to a couple of uniformed officers standing nearby and said, "Look, I used to think they were drinking tequila, but turns out it's just ice water."

The sight of these big, burly officers sipping on ice water was ironically funny and a little tragic.

Ryan rubbed his neck, looking frustrated. "I was hoping for a drink to calm my nerves, but I guess that's off the table." He had clearly forgotten about the strict rules here, being too caught up in his anxiety.

Ryan Gosling was still relatively unknown in early 2001, but Evan knew he was on the verge of something big. By 2011 and 2012, Ryan would be everywhere—nominated for an Oscar for Half Nelson and starring in Drive and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

But right now, at twenty, he had just left The Mickey Mouse Club, where he'd befriended Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera. He started as a singer, but his fame was now growing in film.

His first movie role, Remember the Titans, had him acting alongside Denzel Washington. And this afternoon, Evan planned to catch his second film, The Believer, where Ryan played the lead.

"You can drink all you want at tonight's party," Evan grinned, adding, "and as for being nervous, just run a lap around Park City." The ridiculous suggestion made Ryan laugh.

Evan lifted the pizza and Coke in his hand, signaling his plans to enjoy lunch. "Or try absinthe at the party—just don't pass out afterward," he said with a grin, wishing Ryan good luck as he walked off.

Ryan chuckled, still amused by Evan's bold and humorous attitude. As Evan disappeared around the corner, Ryan realized they hadn't even exchanged names, not that it mattered—they'd only shared a few casual words.

Still, the moment lingered as Ryan turned away.

That afternoon, Evan watched The Believer. Honestly, he was a bit let down. The movie had great reviews and had won several awards, but perhaps his expectations were too high.

It told the true story of Danny, a Jewish youth who once excelled in Hebrew school but eventually turned against his faith and joined a neo-Nazi group.

In the end, Danny's internal struggle with his heritage drove him to suicide.

The film was good, even excellent in some respects. Ryan's portrayal of Danny was compelling—the way he brought out the character's love, hate, and eventual turmoil felt raw and believable.

But something about the second half of the film dragged, and the script lacked impact in key moments. Ryan was good, especially being only in his second movie, but he hadn't quite hit the level of star power Evan knew he'd reach one day.

In the end, Evan left feeling a bit disappointed.

"I still like Memento more," Teddy chimed in, as direct as ever. "This one's a bit dry."

Evan grinned. "Even the best movies will still have people who won't like them," he said.

"I bet the director would be heartbroken to hear that," Evan joked. "But yeah, Memento is more my style too." That earned a chuckle from Teddy.

"I wonder how Donnie Darko will turn out tomorrow," Evan added. He hadn't seen the final cut yet, and as it was his first movie, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

He wasn't jittery, but a drink would help steady his nerves. Evan understood why Ryan had felt so tense earlier.

When they arrived at the party, the smell of alcohol hit him, blending with the atmosphere of celebration.

Despite not being much of a drinker, Evan found himself infected by the festive mood. In this alcohol-restricted city, a free-flowing bar felt like an oasis.

Even if you don't drink, the vibe alone will make you want to join in.

Evan spotted two familiar faces in the crowd—familiar to him because they were famous, unfamiliar because he'd never met them in person before.

Zhang Yimou and Zhang Ziyi were here, promoting The Road Home. As the only Asian film at Sundance, it had garnered a lot of attention.

Zhang Yimou, already famous internationally for Raise the Red Lantern, had drawn a crowd.

Evan hesitated, unsure whether to approach, when a voice called from behind, "Hey!" He turned to see Ryan Gosling again, a smile on his face.

Ryan, at twenty, wasn't the heartthrob he'd become. His youth gave him an innocent, almost shy look, with a melancholy air about him.

It made him memorable in a subtle way. And with his buzzcut from The Believer, he had a striking, bold appearance.

"Absinthe," Ryan said, raising his glass with a grin. Since the 19th century, absinthe had been the drink of choice for artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Wilde, and Hemingway, so naturally, it was a favorite at Sundance parties.

Evan hadn't expected to see Ryan again, but here they were. At lunch, they joked about finding drinks at the party, and now they had.

Seeing Teddy approaching with a beer in hand, Evan smiled. "Beer is more my style," he said.