Gattaca and Dead Poets Society are two of my favourite films. I’ve mentioned them several times on this blog already.
In Gattaca, there is a sibling rivalry between Vincent and his genetically engineered brother, Anton.
They used to play a game of “chicken” where they would swim out to sea. The first one to turn back, lost.
Because Anton was genetically superior, he ALWAYS won, until one day Vincent outswam him and ended up saving his brother from drowning.
When Anton asked Vincent how he beat him, he replied:
“You wanna know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.“
The reason I love this film is because Vincent was prepared to risk everything. He did not let fear or his own genetic limits stop him.
There is a big lesson here…
If something truly matters to you, go all the way. Don’t spend your life saving everything for the swim back.
As for Dead Poets Society, what is there I can say about this film that has not already been said?
I watched this film at the cinema when I was 14 and I will never forget the part in the film where all the students are looking at photos of previous students from many years ago in the trophy room.
Mr. Keating (played by Robin Williams) points out that all these boys filled with hope, ambition, and youth are now all long gone, ultimately becoming “food for worms”.
It is at this point, he steps in closer and delivers the core message of the film. A message that would resonate with anyone who was paying attention at the time.
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
It’s got to be one of the greatest quotes ever in a film. Keating encouraged these boys to live their lives authentically instead of adhering to expectations placed upon them by others.
There’s another part in the film where Keating explains that the only reason poetry/language exists is to “Woo Women”.
“So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys – to woo women – and, in that endeavour, laziness will not do. It also won’t do in your essays.”
Keating transformed something that may have been perceived as boring and academic into something that served as a source of inspiration for romance and self-expression.
Both of these films, in their own ways, enrich the soul and will always find a place in my top 10. They are also potentially life-changing, which makes them something of a rare breed.
