Finally! I've been waiting for Netflix to add this movie to their long-list of movies based on real life story like several years already! I've seen the movie in the cinema when it first came out and remember going out feeling numb from all the crying.
I kept on thinking, how someone's trust in him/herself was built based on others' belief towards him/herself. Zamperini's brother believed in him. Refused to let him be nothing. I myself don't know or probably am blind to anyone who actually ever believe in me.
Also, for Zamperini who probably yearning for audiences while striking victory in the Olympic, he probably felt much prouder of himself for gaining audience while he raised the huge block of wood in front of the Bird. He had showed to others that he can never be unbroken. At this point of the movie, I can't help feeling ashamed of my points of weakness for not being able to achieve certain things in my life. I failed in design studies hence my decision to quit architecture school. I never felt so depressed in my life.
Of course, that was 5 years ago. I still feel I could have done better but one of things that I have learned as part of being an adult is to learn from past mistakes, embracing that part of myself today for tomorrow's wiser decisions. I do feel like as if I'm floating in between things in my life - not for 47 days in open ocean but it does feels like that some times especially when I'm between blogging jobs and that's when reality strikes me, pulls me back to the ground.
while the movie mainly pulls focus on Zamperini, I also can't help shed some tears for the Bird at the end of the movie too. As Zamperini was sitting against the wall of the Bird's room, looking how modest his room looked like; with a single photo of the Bird and his father, I can only imagine his frustration of being a single child of a renowned family with high expectation to hold high position in military only to be denied and forced to be prison guard. Obviously, I can totally relate that.
Now, this movie is more than just average to me. I haven't got the chance to actually read the book but I'd say Angeline Jolie has definitely earned the 1 million Dollars she got paid to direct this movie. I actually love Domnall Gleeson's portrayal of Russel Phillips' character alongside Jack O'Connel's Louise Zamperini's character. I feel like he is like the Tiger in Life of Pi; he kept Zamperini to go on and not give up even when they both captured and almost went insane.
Overall, I definitely would love to recommend this to anyone above the age of 18. Definitely inspiring.
Do let me know if you have recommendation on similar movie to this by leaving comments down below and until next post, take care.