Monday, August 19, 2013
Adoption Movie Guide: Pacific Rim
Gigantic monsters called Kaijus have emerged from a trans-universal
rift in the ocean, intent on exterminating human life and colonizing the earth.
They are initially overpowering, but the governments of the world join together
and craft “Jaegers,” skyscraper-tall weaponized robots, which are able to stand
up to the Kaijus. But then bigger Kaijus come, and governments cut funding to
the Jaeger program. Can humankind defeat the invaders using outdated
technology?
How is This Relevant
to Adoption?
The Jaeger machines are too complex to be piloted by a
single person. Two co-pilots are joined together through a neural handshake, melding their minds together so that they think as a single unit. We learn that, “the
deeper the bond, the better [you function.]” One unit is piloted by two
brothers – one of the brothers dies and the other later reflects, “I was still
connected to him” when I lost him. He also adds that he “can’t have anyone else
in my head” because of this. It’s a pretty reasonable portrayal of a traumatic
loss resulting in difficulties making new relationships.
Also, one character was more-or-less adopted by another character,
years earlier. The adoptive-esque parent is very protective, and struggles to
let his child – now an adult – serve in the war. Another character chastises
him, “You rescued her. You raised her. Now you are not protecting her; you are
holding her back.”
Strong Points
There
is love and respect between the adoptive parent and his child. The character
who is unable to make emotional connections eventually regains that ability.
Weaknesses
One
scene is particularly disturbing. One of the attacking monsters is pregnant.
After she dies, the developing baby monster comes out of her corpse, ready to
fight, but it ultimately is strangled by its own umbilical cord.
Recommendations and Conclusions
Pacific
Rim will probably appeal mostly to teenagers and young adults. One character
could be particularly powerful for young adults who have experienced
significant losses and who, because of their losses, find it difficult to trust
others. If you see it with your older teen, there might be a conversation point
there. Adoptive parents could reflect on
the challenges inherent in letting a child who needed you, grow up and go out
into the world again. Aside from that, it seems like a pretty standard
big-budget action/sci-fi movie.
Questions
How
will I let my adopted child transition into adulthood? In what ways does
adoption make this different from the task of any parent to let their child
grow up? In what ways is it similar?
How
did the character find the ability to trust another person?
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