Living
With
DANGER
Regardless of who a person is and regardless of where a person
lives, each and every one of us at times is exposed to something dangerous. This is not to
say that the world is a dangerous place but rather that there are things that are
dangerous in the world. Most of us learn how to keep ourselves reasonably safe to minimize
the risk of being hurt and even killed. Even when we do pursue safe lives, things can
still happen that put us in danger. These incidents can happen because we do not want to
see the danger, such as with a condition that is an "accident waiting to happen"
or because there was no way to predict the peril. In either case, an event can occur that
puts us in danger and might even cause some serious harm. As a result we may try to find
ways to reduce the risk of harm in the future, ignore the warning (going on as if nothing
happend), or overreact by maintaining an exaggerated sense of vulnerability.
Certain situations are more dangerous than others. Being in a war zone is more dangerous
than being in a museum on a pleasant autumn day. The level of danger cannot predict
one’s endurance. People can survive the hostilities of the war and be injured or even
killed in the museum if a strong earthquake shakes the ground under the school.
Many films deal with danger. Some are very scary simply because their sole purpose is to
scare, like riding a roller coaster. Other movies reveal some important truths about
living with danger or one’s perception of being in danger. These are films that also
can be frightening but they give the viewer a chance to learn about fear and facing
something that is threatening.
The Films
TEA WITH MUSSOLINI
There are times when we can become so comfortable and
confident about our situations that we can over assess our security and
ignore evidence that should tell us our circumstances are not as safe as we
want to believe. Tea With Mussolini reveals how several rather
intelligent middle aged women set themselves up to be captives of war. It
isn’t that they had no warning that their country, England, and the land
in which they lived, Italy, were on the verge of war. They did, having been
told by a person they knew was in a position to know what was happening.
Elsie, the unofficial leader of the group, had an overstated sense of her
influence with Italy’s dictator, Mussolini, and despite being assaulted by
his fascists, she refused to believe that things could get out of control.
Mary and others passively closed ranks behind her because Elsie was so
confident and, frankly, they did not want to leave the country they loved.
How it develops that they end up captives reflects denial, wishful thinking,
wanting to see (and believe) what we want to see, and blind trust in the
judgement of another. This is a common pattern that has caused many to be
caught in dangerous and sometimes fatal situations when they did not want to
acknowledge that the smoke they saw indicated that a fire was smoldering.
Released by MGM/UA
Rated PG by M.P.A.A.
BURNT BY THE SUN It
is a holiday for Sergei Kotov, a time to enjoy the pleasures of summer and being with
his family that he loves dearly. Everyone is happy and playful, although at moments there are distractions
and annoyances. After all Kotov is an important man and people expect him to take charge.
This he does decisively and with good humor. Like many lazy summer days, things seem to
happen spontaneously and without much warning or anticipation. Not until the film is
almost over do we realize that something terrible is happening and that the lives of these
people will be changed forever. Only Kotov understands what is happening and then only too
late. All of this reflects a troubling circumstance that has occurred time and again
throughout history and will occur again. People put faith in their leaders and the ideals
they represent, without catching or questioning the lies being told nor appreciating the
insidious, dark side of the social order to which they have adapted and in which they
themselves have taken a part. It’s not that they are blind nor in denial with what is
going on around them. Events cannot be seen in their proper perspective and people want to
believe, given the spirit of the time, in what they, as a people, as a nation, or as a
cause are "accomplishing." At such moment people see all the evidence indicating
that the movement is truly great. Only later, after events have taken their course,
are people able to look back and put into perspective the ominous conditions that they
could not see when they were unfolding. Burnt By The Sun allows us to see the world
as it appeared to many of the Russian people in the mid thirties, naive, full of idealism
and free of the awareness that came only later as Stalin’s true nature became evident
and his crimes and the crimes of the system were exposed so people could appreciate what
had happened to them and their neighbors.
Russian with English subtitles.
Columbia Tristar Home Video
Rated R by M.A.A.P.
See Also:
The African Queen
Little Voice
Sling Blade
Please note: Movies are being added to this
page. Check back soon.
| The booklet Understanding Victimization can be an aid for those who struggle burdensome issues as a result of
living with danger. You might find the booklet helpful to read after seeing these films.
For only $2.50 plus shipping and handling you can have this booklet mailed to you
within two days! Check out this booklet NOW! |
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