Though he knew he faced incredible odds, Atticus Finch defended his client, because it was the right thing to do. In America, he had the right and the ability to do what he believed was morally and ethically right in a situation. Watching that movie was the first time I wondered what it would be like to live in America.
Of course, not every Hollywood movie is so inspiring about the American dream, but I found the same message in apparently diverse movies. I remember watching the movie Jerry Maguire, which starts out as a man with everything rejecting what appears to be the American Dream. However, the story really is of someone coming into his own and allowing his conscience, not societal mores, not externally imposed limitations, guide him in his life and career. I watched movies like Radio and I am Sam, with their messages that even severe disabilities cannot stop a person if that person has the desire...
In a close-knit society, like the one from which I come, the reality is that perceived weaknesses can create insurmountable roadblocks to success, because people actively hinder success thinking that they are being protective or helpful. While I am certain that occurs in the United States as well, the can-do spirit that is conveyed in so much of American cinema differs from the spirit conveyed in cinema of my country of origin. It made me wonder what it would be like to live in a country where the overall attitude was one of optimism. People may not like the beliefs one is standing for, but, in America, there seemed to be at least a grudging respect for the fact that a person would stand up for those beliefs. My experience with American movies made me decide that I would move to the United States to pursue my education, so that I could gain an understanding of what it is like to live the American dream.
