Movies reflect human needs: Belonging

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Theme: Movies reflect human needs...

Belonging

Images from storyblocks.com

A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. (Brené Brown)

One of my brothers jokes, "Our parents moved a lot when we were growing up, but we always found them!" 

My dad's job, indeed, had us on the move, and then I married a Navy man and continued relocating. I learned that exploring the locale and finding good friends helped me to adapt and feel connected. A sense of belonging is important to me.

There are numerous wonderful films fitting the topic, and it was difficult to choose! My list is still longer than I intended, but how does one pare down the list and exclude movies when discussing "belonging"? hahaha! (My apologies to the omitted films.)

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

• When Rachel (Constance Wu) meets her fiancé's family, she is overwhelmed by their wealth. Will she fit in with them? Her future mother-in-law doesn't think so. (I reviewed this film for ClearPlay, found here.)

42 (2013)

• With racism raging in 1947, many felt Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) didn't belong playing baseball on a "white" team.

Gifted (2017)

• Does Mary (Mckenna Grace), a child prodigy, belong with her uncle/guardian (Chris Evans) or her grandmother (Lindsay Duncan)? The court must decide. (My review for this film is found here.)

Matilda (1996)

• Sweet, kind, and gifted Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) feels she does not belong in her family. They are so different! She finds connection and belonging with a kind teacher.

Overboard (1987)

• Amnesiac "Annie" (Goldie Hawn) senses from the get-go that she does not belong with Dean (Kurt Russell) and the unruly children. And she's right... initially.
• (Note: I listed my favorite version of this film. My review for the 2018 remake is found here.)

Race (2016)

• According to Hitler and his warped view of supremacy, Jesse Owens (Stephan James) does not belong in the Olympics, especially when hosted in Berlin. (Click here for my ClearPlay review of the film.) 

The Sandlot (1993)

• I know I've mentioned this film in several other posts, but how can I not include it under a theme of belonging? I love the friendship represented in this film!

Secondhand Lions (2003)

• Walter's (Haley Joel Osment) negligent mother dumps him on two peculiar uncles (Michael Caine, Robert Duvall). He initially feels abandoned and out of place, but as tolerance turns to love, he realizes he's exactly where he belongs.

Skylark (1993)

• In this sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991), Jacob (Christopher Walken) tells Sarah (Glenn Close) that his name is written in the land. Does Sarah belong there, in a land plagued with drought? Or in New England near the sea where she grew up? She eventually determines where she belongs and writes her name in the soil.

Where the Heart Is (2000)

• After Novalee (Natalie Portman) finds herself abandoned by her boyfriend when they stopped in a small town, a friendly woman takes her in and provides a safe haven.

What movies come to mind when you consider the human need to belong?

(Note: The movies listed might not be completely family-friendly. See my "Movie Content" information on the blog's sidebar.)

Movies reflect human needs: Agency

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Theme: Movies reflect human needs...

Agency

Image from storyblocks.com

Humans need agency--the God-given ability to choose and act for ourselves. 

Even when freedoms are taken away, we can still direct our thoughts and attitudes. Viktor Frankl observed this first-hand while a prisoner in a WWII concentration camp, and teaches:

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

One day I came home from work spouting about how my boss "made me mad." My husband pointed out, "No one can make you mad. You chose to be mad." Well, that "made" me even madder! But, I realized that he was right. 

The next day I was more aware of choosing my thoughts and reactions, so when my boss threw his usual tantrums, I chose to not let it bother me and had a wonderful day at work.

When I consider movies reflecting the human need of agency, I think of...

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

• A mysterious group manipulates and makes adjustments, to ensure people follow the path of life outlined for them, whether they like it or not.

Breathe (2017)

• Based on the true story of Robin Cavendish, paralyzed by polio, who, with the help of his wife, pushes past boundaries, creating ways to live beyond the walls of the hospital. (Prior to that, those who needed artificial respirators required hospitalization.) (My review for the film is found here.)

The Giver (2014)

• A society without war and pain might sound ideal, but what if it also lacks decisions and choice? That's the order of an equalitarian society established by the Chief Elder. With the use of a mandatory drug, members of the society have no memories, no history, just a simple "happiness" (also thanks to the drug) with all life decisions made by the Elders. This is the antithesis of agency.

Groundhog Day (1993)

• Phil (Bill Murray) apparently has no control over being stuck existing in the same day over and over for years, but he is free to choose how he spends that day.

The Truman Show (1998)

• Truman (Jim Carrey) thinks his life is his own, not realizing his environment and friends are specifically selected and controlled by the director of a reality TV show.

Walk. Ride. Rodeo. (2019)

• After an accident, Amberly Snyder faces life in a wheelchair and learns that although she has physical limitations, she still has choices, "I realize maybe I won't have control over every situation in my life. Maybe I don't get to make every decision. But when I wake up in the morning, I get to decide my attitude."  (Based on a true story.) ("My Take" review is found here.)

What movies come to mind when you think about agency--the ability to choose and act for ourselves?

(Note: The movies listed might not be completely family-friendly. See my "Movie Content" information on the blog's sidebar.)

2021 A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

This is my seventh year participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge... since this blog focuses on film, my themes always tie into movies. You can click on the A to Z Challenges tab above (or click here) to find a list of each year, the theme, and post titles (linked to the individual posts).

2015: I had a different theme for each day of the week. 

• Mondays: Dialogue, Lines, Quotes
• Tuesdays: My Take (reviews)
• Wednesdays: Point of View
• Thursdays: More Point of View
• Fridays: Comic Relief
• Saturdays: Outtakes (trivia)

2016: Making movie lines our own. 

2017: Food in Film 

2018: Guess the movies from the taglines. 

2019: Why I watch movies (as if I need a reason). 

2020: Humor in film -- what makes me laugh. 

And now it's time to reveal the theme for 2021...

Movies Reflect Human Needs

When I think of needs, I think of a scene from What About Bob? (1991), when Bob (Bill Murray) begs "I need! I need! I need! I need!" (See a clip here.) 

We all have needs, it's universal -- something we share as human beings. Sure we have basic needs like shelter, water, and food, but humans also need agency, belonging, creativity... 

Follow along as I share some ABCs of universal human needs reflected in movies, because, as film director Alejandro G. Inarritu said, "Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves."

Or, to quote Steve Martin... 

"You know what your problem is, it's that you haven't seen enough movies -- all of life's riddles are answered in the movies."

 

My awful.

Wednesday: Point of View

I sit at a messy desk while I write today. It was difficult to drag myself here. Too often I feel like everything needs to be perfect before I can begin. The right time, the right order, the right mood... what have you.

But today I told myself to own the awful. It's an attitude I've tried to adopt ever since watching Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) on Netflix.

Back story...

Lars (Will Ferrell) dreams of singing at Eurovision--the world's biggest song competition. Problem is, he lacks the vocal and performing skills but doesn't know it. His singing partner, Sigrit (Rachel McAdams), has the voice of an angel, but she stays tethered to Lars. The singing duo label themselves Fire Saga.

Through a bizarre turn of events, they are sent to represent their beloved Iceland at Eurovision.

Meanwhile, at a pub in Fire Saga's hometown of Husavik, a group watches soccer on the television.

Someone insists...

MAN #1

Turn on the song contest, I want to watch Iceland.

Others grumble and complain.

MAN #2

What's wrong with you people? Lars and Sigrit are from our town. They've grown up with all of us.

(to the schoolteacher)

Lenderman, did you not teach them both as children?

(to another)

Steve Gundersson, they played music at your first wedding.

GUNDERSON

And my fourth.

More conversation about Fire Saga's horrible performances...

MAN #2

... We know they're awful, but they're our awful. I say change the channel and let's take our medicine!

I love that scene, "...let's take our medicine" makes me laugh! But I find myself thinking about the phrase "they're our awful". Not only does it remind me to support friends and family in their endeavors, it reminds me to support myself--my awful--when life or dreams go awry.

That doesn't mean I won't continue efforts in trying to improve, but falling short of ideal is okay. 

So what if my desk is a mess, so what if I have notes upon notes of unfollowed ideas, so what if I am inconsistent with my writing... it's my awful and I can take it.

NOTE: If concerned about content, ClearPlay offers filters for this film.