Picture from Google Image
“Then if this is your dream, you must do it.”
The other night, after many nights of exhaustion and brain-deadness and zombiefied-ness, I decided that I should watch a movie on TV to relax after the kids went to bed. While browsing through Netflix, I saw The Walk.
I roughly knew that the movie was about the man who walked a wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, so I thought, it should be interesting.
It was more than interesting. It was crazy! It was gripping! It was insane! I was at the edge of my seat and was almost biting my fingernails towards the end of the movie. Philippe Petit is one crazy man!
OK, in case you have no idea what I’m talking about, The Walk is based on the true story of how French high-wire artist Philippe Petit (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) prepared for and performed his daredevil (and some might even say miraculous) stunt in 1974.
I liked how the movie was narrated in a simple way, with no frills and no drama. Because the stunt in itself already provided such tension, there really wasn’t any need to further dramatise it. In fact, I felt that the simple narration gave a good balance to the suspense.
The movie, in my opinion, did well in helping the audience get to know Philippe Petit. You see this man who has this crazy dream, and you really wonder what is wrong with him and why is he so adamant at performing this death-defying coup?? At the same time, you feel for him, and, as much as you keep shaking your head and saying ‘He’s crazy! What’s wrong with him?! OMG!’ (that was exactly what I was doing throughout the movie), you’ll find that you have gone onto his team and are cheering him on too.
A few things I took away from the story:
Firstly, I am amazed at Philippe’s determination and talent and mental strength. So much was happening that could easily knock him off his mission, but he never gave up. Yet, as much as the man himself should be saluted for his achievement, I am also envious of his ‘accomplices’.
Philippe found a group of friends who were willing to support him and go all the way to help him achieve his dream. It’s so important to surround ourselves with people who will stand by us in our quest to achieve our dream. One naysayer is enough sometimes to plant a doubtful thought and cause us to give up, but when you have like-minded friends who are constantly working with you and helping you, you’ll be able to go far!
Finally, at the end of the day, say what you want about Philippe. He’s crazy, he’s a madman, he’s insane. But you have to admit that you were cheering and saluting him for going all the way to achieve his dream. He answered ‘the call’.
Long after I turned off the TV, the conversation between Philippe and his then-girlfriend Annie continued to ring in my ears.
Philippe: Yes, I am mad but this, this is my dream.
Annie: Then if this is your dream, you must do it.
Philippe: But even if everybody tells me I’m mad?
Annie: Well, you shouldn’t care about what other people think.
Love,
Natalie