Movie Week 1

Power Of One

Power Of One

by Marcus Kisielewski -
Number of replies: 5

TITLE:Power Of One

AUTHOR: Bryce Courtenay

  • Born: 14 August 1933
  • Died: Not Yet
  • Lived: johannesburg (South Africa)

PUBLICATION DATE: 1989

SETTING: South Africa, 1930's

THEME:

Only when people join up and become one, may peace overcome the hatred.

PLOT:

A english boy has to grow up with racist white "Afrikaans" after his mother died. It was during the war with Hitler, and the Afrikaans blammed the English for thier ancestors suffering. PK then goes with his grandfather who teaches him about the land. PK meets pete who teaches him boxing. After Pete dies, PK unites the different african tribes in song and dance.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Nanny (protaganist) - Cared for PK, helped him when his mother died.

PK (protaganist) - Main character, gets bullied as a child. Learns how to box and helps unite and bring hope to south africans.

Doc (protaganist) - Famous pianist. Took care of PK, taught him piano. He also taught PK all about life, the world, and nature.

Pete (protaganist) - Black prisoner, taught PK how to box.

Prison Guards (antaganists) - Kill pete and mess with PK and his grandfather.

Black Boxer (protaginist) - Not 100pct sure of his name, hard to understand the accents. Anywayz, he showed PK that using myths to unite people can help them overcome persecution and hatred.

Evil School Boy/Nazi/Police Officer (antaganist) - He continued to assault PK, and all that he loved. Throughout PKs life, this other boy always found a way to take away what he loved and cared for. He never broke his spirit.

SYMBOLS:

Prison Guards/Kids In School = Racism, hatred, ignorance.

Doc = Light, truth, honesty, nature.

There are probably more symbols, but pulling them all out and giving them exact definitions and meanings is not really in my abilities.

RESPONSE:

The movie was alot better then i thought it was going to be. Ive been dreading watching movies, but they arent that bad. This movie helps shows that there are two sides to every story. Each side in the movie had their own motives and reasoning for what they did. Obviously, the movie was based on the Englishmans/Africans side of the story. Anywayz, It was a good movie even though it didnt have what I normally love in movies. Sex, violence, war, comedy. It did have alot of violence, but mainly in the form of pure hatred and boxing. I wouldnt watch this movie again, but i dont regret watching it this time. It kind of opened my eyes, i have been ignorant in the past.

In reply to Marcus Kisielewski

Re: Power Of One

by Mrs. Gutman -
It appears as if you did not finish the movie. What you have is good. did you miss the violence b/c I know it is in several places. watch it again and make sure to finish it. this movie is one of my favorites.
In reply to Mrs. Gutman

Re: Power Of One

by Marcus Kisielewski -

I did finish the movie when i posted the response. (Even though i was writing it while i was actually watching it).

There was alot of violence in the movie. However, it wasnt the violence i enjoy in a movie. I enjoy a fair fight between a few people, or a battle scene with hundreds of soldiers fighting each other. That type of violence is appealing to me, for some reason.

However, the violence in the movie was more saddening then actually exhilirating. I mean, watching a little kid be pissed on and strung up? I almost threw up when i watched that. And then later on, watching all the blacks in the villiage ((alexendria?)) be shot, whipped, and beaten without stop. Watching that cute redheaded girl be hit and killed.

There was alot of violence because it was a very violent movie. That is one of the reasons i decided to watch this movie first ((i didnt see Moby Dick on the list before)). Anywayz, seeing that type of violence made me a little sick to my stomach and repulsed with the way some people think.

If you dont mind my asking, what about this movie do you like so much? Is it the persecution they face and fight against? Or maybe the way that one person can unite a whole group to act and stand as one. Id like to know why you liked it so i may better see the true meanings i may have missed the first time i watched it.

In reply to Marcus Kisielewski

Re: Power Of One

by Tariq Elagamy -
Why would somebody want to make a movie about this stuff? And who would seriously want to watch it and after watching it enjoy it. Really Mrs. Gutman...why did you like this movie?
In reply to Marcus Kisielewski

Re: Power Of One

by Marcus Kisielewski -

OOOPPPPPSSSSSS ------ Didnt finish the plot. My bad!!!

PLOT - CONTINUED - After PK unites the tribes with song and dance, he grows up more. He becomes a boxer for a english school in south africa. Together with his best friend, he fights and stands up for blacks in the community. He meets a cute little red-headed girl and they fall in love. She is taken from him when they try to teach blacks how to read and write in english. The evil little anglo saxon from the school busted into the church where the teaching was taking place, and they killed the girl. This doesnt stop PK from fighting for the blacks he loves, and he does help them read and write. He also helps them to help themselves. The struggle isnt over when the movie ends, but progress has been made.

History doesnt change in a day.