Tag Archives: Hawaii

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The Ancestors or The Descendants, A Cinematic Perspective

The Descendants (film)

The Descendants (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three subjects of particular interest to me came together in The Descendants:

  1. Family History
  2. Cinema
  3. Antarctica

Family History: My Perspective

If  family history is viewed as an exploration of those who came before – ancestors, the weight of obligation is less than if one views family history from a descendant’s perspective. That is illustrated brilliantly in the film, as Matt King struggles with the responsibility of stewardship of land he and other descendants inherited. Matt King is a man who can recite his pedigree, passes it to his children and shares it with a gaggle of cousins. The past is present in their lives.

A Cinematic Perspective

This film is rife with cinematic cliches. Hawaii as paradise.  Workaholic father and distant husband. Dysfunctional family. Disloyal wife. Matrimonial implosion. Precocious tween. Teenage daughter acting out. Dull-witted teen beau. Eccentric supporting characters.

BUT

Every time I became impatient with the cliche, there was a situational twist; or a piece of dialogue that belied the cliche; or an unexpected insight into a character. That’s a really big but. The Descendants is a much, much better film than it appears in promos, reviews or on the DVD cover. There are human truths brilliantly depicted. I’ll let you pick the ones that resonate with you. My moments were the hospital scenes when the characters spoke to the comatose Elizabeth as if she could hear. Been there, done that.

Antarctica

My dream as a marketer of polar product was to see the Arctic and Antarctica become ubiquitous. Like Walmart – even if you never shopped there – you know the name. The Descendants confirmed that that dream of mine is now a reality. I won’t spoil how the film set in Hawaii manages to do that. Just watch it.

As a matter of fact that is the best piece of advice I can give you about this film – just watch it.

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Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

New York Times - November 11, 1918

End of World War II

The  end of World War I will be marked on November 11, 2011. We’ll be asked to stand silent for 2 minutes at 11 AM. Traffic should stop. Children should rise in class. Military veterans will stand at attention – those who can. Others will sit tall in wheelchairs or slumber in beds, unaware and unable to salute the past and remember the present.

If you are in London, England on that day, you could visit the War Rooms, underground near Westminster. From those tiny dark halls, Sir Winston Churchill led his country and the Allies to victory in World War II.  Visiting Europe? There are War Graves – fields of crosses, row on row – where you can pay your respects. Is Hawaii your destination – visit the Pearl Harbour memorial. Or attend services in your national capital or local community.

Don’t forget those who still serve, for the War to End all Wars did not succeed. There are Veterans hospitals that need volunteers – readers, visitors, assistants – people who remember the sacrifice of the living.

Take a personal day on the 11th. Attend the cenotaph ceremony. Canada has more cenotaphs per capita than any country on Earth. Legion members and cadets will march in formation to lay a wreath. Be there on the side lines. Cheer them on.

Wear a poppy. When you drop the coin into the veteran’s collection box – thank him or her for their service. We should do this any year. Everyone of us should make the effort.

Say a prayer for those in harm’s way, if you are a believer. Or just write a letter to a front-line soldier. Take a cake to a military family whose soldier won’t be home this year.

We must not forget.