"Feelms" about SPIRIT OF ACHIEVEMENT
1. "Gone with the Wind" (Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood, 1939).
Synopsis: Georgia, 1861. In the elegant southern mansion of Tara lives Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), the most beautiful, capricious and selfish girl in the region. She sighs for Ashley's love (Leslie Howard), but he is engaged to her cousin, the sweet and kind Melanie (Olivia de Havilland). At the last party before the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-1865), Scarlett meets the cynical and handsome Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), an arrogant and adventurous buffoon who thinks only of himself and has no intention of participating in the war. All he wants is to get rich and conquer the heart of the beautiful Scarlett.
Pure legendary cinema. An indisputable classic, plagued by all kinds of situations and universal human conflicts: love, hate, war, struggle, betrayal, selfishness, humor, affection, nostalgia ... but above all, I like the role of Scarlett O'Hara: a strong, brave, witty, resourceful woman, who does not allow herself to be overwhelmed by anything or anyone. Although she is far from being perfect, she draws strength in the hardest moments and that is praiseworthy, even more for a woman of her time. Wonderful and unforgettable "feelm".
2. "Rocky" (John G. Avildsen, 1976).
Synopsis: Rocky Balboa is an unknown boxer who is offered the chance to fight for the world heavyweight title. With great strength of will, Rocky prepares conscientiously for the combat and also for the changes that will end up occurring in his life.
A cult film about self-improvement, "Rocky" marked a milestone in the history of cinema for its vehement portrait of the triumph from the underworld in the 1970s in the United States. With a script that could perfectly apply to any other part of the world, since the spectators felt very identified with it, this film gave birth to Sylvester Stallone's myth and inspired more than one young boy to go out and fight for what they really wanted to have in life. A full energy shot!
3. "Forrest Gump" (Robert Zemeckis, 1994).
Synopsis: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) suffers from a certain mental retardation. In spite of that, thanks to his tenacity and to his good heart, Forrest will be protagonist of crucial events concerning his country during several decades. As these series of events play out, in his mind is always present the beautiful Jenny (Robin Wright), his childhood's great love who, together with his mother, will be the most important person in his life.
Another of my favorite "feelm" ever. Forrest inspires all the good that a person can inspire. His innocence and sincerity in life are simply sweeping. As is his spirit of self-improvement; despite his mental deficiency, and accustomed to suffering "bullying" from the earliest childhood, he always has in mind a goal and knows how to get away with it and triumph. Sprinkled with good doses of humor, tenderness and wisdom, this is one of the essential films if we want to fill ourselves with motivation.
4. "City of God" ("Cidade de Deus", Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, 2002).
Synopsis: Based on real events, it describes the world of organized crime in Ciudad de Deus, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, a time when drug trafficking and violence imposed their law In the favelas. In the late 1960s, Buscapé, a shy and sensitive 11-year-old boy, watches his neighborhood's tough kids, their robberies, their fights, their daily confrontations with the police. But he knows very well what he wants to be if he manages to survive: a photographer. Dadinho, a boy of his age who moves to the neighborhood, dreams of being the most dangerous criminal in Rio de Janeiro and begins his apprenticeship by running errands for local criminals. He admires Cabeleira and his gang, who are engaged in mooring gas trucks. One day, Cabeleira gives Dadinho the opportunity to commit his first murder.
Hard and visceral, not suitable for all stomachs. Shot with brutal realism. A true example of overcoming obstacles in life.
5. "Slumdog Millionaire" (Danny Boyle, 2008).
Synopsis: Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a poor adolescent from the suburbs of Bombay who participates in the Hindu version of the popular program "Who wants to be a millionaire?". When he is about to win 20 million rupees, which is the maximum prize of the contest, the young man is questioned by the police, who suspect he is cheating. But, incredible as it may seem, for each of the questions Jamal has an answer.
Fairy tale filmed with frenetic music video style - as Danny Boyle likes. Sometimes hard, it enters us perfectly in the history of the boy who fights to become someone recognized and with possibilities in life. It captures very well the value of effort and rising up again in the face of adversity, in spite of the human evil reigning on many occasions ...
If you can think of more movies that talk about SPIRIT OF ACHIEVEMENT, or want to say something, share your thoughts! Thank you!