The power of one

¶ … Character does "The One" Refer to?

On the level of pure plot summary, the title of the British film "The Power of One" refers to P.K, the main character of this drama set in 1940's South Africa. The film shows from the beginning how P.K. always felt different from most of his fellow students, felt singled out as 'the one' deserving of torment. He was the only English boy in an Afrikaans school in South Africa, and the other students made him a target of nationalist violence. This shows how even amongst whites, racism was rife in South African society.

also felt singled out by fate, because he was orphaned at a young age. Thus, he is always, from the beginning of the film, 'one.' However, this solitude of 'oneness' changes in the film, when other characters recognize P.K. As a uniquely talented and special person. Over the course of the film P.K. becomes 'the one' not in a negative fashion, but in a positive way that highlights his capacity to fight, to make music, and to bring people together. For example, a prison inmate named Geel Piet considers P.K. special and different in a positive way because of P.K.'s talent at boxing. Piet sees P.K.'s talent at boxing, as a special gift that can bring people together, like P.K.'s guardian Doc saw and mentored the boy's talent at music and with gardening.

P.K. feels a sense of responsibility to maintain his special qualities and talents throughout his life, as he continues to box and to associate with all peoples, regardless of color, creed, or nationality, even in a divided land. P.K's status of singularity does not mean he rejects the companionship of others. He, continues to be open to the love and mentoring of others, even while he stands is 'the one' of the title, and alone in the boxing ring. One of his greatest stands of bravery comes when his girlfriend Maria's father becomes involved in politics and he helps the man teach English to the native tribes. Even after Maria is killed, P.K. is able to recover his spirit and move on with his life, continuing to teach and act as a mentor to others, including Black South Africans, as the German Doc acted as a mentor to himself when he was a young, alienated British boy. The film thus is about not just the respect eventual the Black tribes gain for P.K. Or of the myth that grows up around P.K.'s boxing talent, but the power of one individual to change the lives of others through teaching and mentorship, whether it be Doc's early fostering of P.K., Piet Geel's teaching of boxing to the orphaned British box, or the professor's mentoring of P.K.'s own English teaching.

Character Study

Geel Piet

Geel Piet is a man looking to believe in something, anything and anyone. He is a good man in a desperate situation, an inmate at the South African prison where P.K. goes to visit his guardian, Doc. Piet teaches the boy to box, out of love for the sport and respect for the young boy. Eventually, Geel Piet regards P.K. As especially gifted at brining people together. He believes that P.K.'s talents will bring tribes together in the divided land of South Africa.

Doc

Like all of the main characters in "The Power of One," Doc is an alien -- with a nickname. He is a German national named Professor von Vollensteen and thus stands apart from his fellow South African neighbors, as the British P.K. did while at school. After the Second World War begins Doc is placed in prison because he is an unregistered foreigner. Doc was a friend of P.K.'s grandfather took the boy into his care, because he was the only tie the boy had with his old family and life. When Doc is put in prison, P.K. is alone in the world again.

Doc also seems like a lonely man, artistic and sensitive, and genuinely interested in mentoring and fostering P.K.'s talent and character, out of respect for his old friend, and also because he identifies with P.K. As an outsider. Doc is reserved however, and makes P.K. work hard, because he believes in the value of work. He not only makes P.K. discipline his talent at music, but also asks for his help as a gardener, in exchange for the boy's lessons.

P.K.