Movie \"Thank You for Smoking.\"

¶ … movie "Thank you for smoking." While some might think that the movie is trying to make a strong point about the bad habit of smoking and the power that the cigarette companies have, it is also true that this is not the only theme that it brings into discussion. Compromise, defining good and evil, money, vices and morality are some of the other issue which the viewer is tempted to think about after having seen "Thank you for smoking."

We live in an era in which everybody knows that smoking is really unhealthy and that doing it for a long time implies severe risks for someone's health. Therefore people ought to be able to do what is best for themselves regardless of the media assault. There is a continuous war between the companies which manufacture cigarettes and those lobbying against them.

The main male character in the movie is fighting for the former ones. With brilliant logic and rhetoric he persuades people into doing something which he knows is wrong for them. from this point-of-view we can consider him and anti-character and despise him for being on the side of the devil.

However things are not that simple. We see his human side and we get to appreciate some parts of him as well. At this point it is very clear that the world is divided not into black and white but into a million shades of grey. The fact that we are able to sympathize with the character is a solid proof that our very own values have become relative.

There is a character who accepts money from the very persons who have caused him a fatal disease. This is a clear statement regarding the lack of strength of people's character. Away from ideals of integrity and morality, people find themselves weak and easily controllable by the media and the people who own them.

Choosing to accept the money he will assure a better living for the rest of his short life, but will also keep people from knowing the truth, therefore condemning many others to ignorance and similar destinies. This also makes an additional and still very strong point about the values of the contemporary world, that is the material ones.

Another issue that can be discussed is that of personal freedom. Nick Naylor may be a very intelligent and skilled orator, but he is not forcing people to do something against their will. All people ought to be able to decide for themselves. We have absolute freedom and control over ourselves. Therefore should we decide to harm ourselves through various vices such as drinking or smoking, why should there be anyone to prevent us from doing it? Does the stare still have the role to protect its citizens? Are the anti-smoking campaigns really made for the benefit of the people or is it everything about financial interests? Are there such things as the devil's advocates or do we have to take care of ourselves on our own? Do we live in a system which is against us? These are some of the questions which "Thank you for smoking" through its ironic perspective makes the viewer wonder about.