A movie
takes you to a place where you can feel pain, sorrow and happiness. Movies
visually show you, instead of telling you. Being a visual learner, watching a
movie is the most effective way for me to actually realize the scenario.
Although there may be some historical inaccuracies within every movie, it is
exaggerated to prove a point. My class watched Cinderella Man, learning about the fight through the Great
Depression. I learned quite a bit about life in America during the Great
Depression just from watching the film, Cinderella
Man.
Cinderella Man, directed by Ron
Howard, was based on a true story about James J. Braddock fighting through the
Great Depression in the 1930s. James J. Braddock started out as a well off man,
fighting for his family and himself. As the economy went down, and the Great
Depression started coming in at full force, Braddock had to sell everything. The
film did an outstanding job at displaying what a normal living condition was
like in the 1930s. Previewing the Braddock’s house as a two bedroom, run down
shack. Braddock did everything he could to keep his family in a decent standard
of living, fighting with a broken hand. I did not realize the Great Depression
had hit every family the way it did, until it showed Braddock giving his
daughter his only piece of ham, and his wife watering down the milk. I felt the
depression hit my heart as I watched his little girl beg for more food. When
Braddock got asked to stop boxing, because his last fight was not entreating to
the audience, he was not going to give up. Jim started going to the Docks to
work. The film showed me how hard men were willing to fight and work during the
Great Depression.
When the
electricity got cut off at the Braddock’s house, Jimmy knew he had to do
something. The film showed me how harsh these times were, because Jim did something
nobody ever expected him to do. He went to the government relief office to get
money. Then, Madison Square Garden, getting money from the official’s, just so
he could turn the electricity back on. I felt the pain for the poor little
children, as the home filled with cold air. I could literally feel myself
shaking when I saw the children’s breath come out like smoke every time they
took a breath. I felt empathy when the little boy felt like his family was in
such debt, that he needed to steal food. It showed how even the youngest of
kids knew how poor their conditions were. The daughter sees her mother and
father faced with so much adversity, but never giving up. It shows under hard times, there can be good that comes from it.
When
Braddock is unsure of his fight against Max Baer, the man who killed two men,
he is then reminded of his family and how much he is willing to fight for them.
The time period is so awful, that Braddock is willing to fight anyone to get
the cash for his family. The film is accurate showing the details of the housing, boxing ring, cars, and clothing. Some historical inaccuracy is seen through Max Baer.
The director exaggerated Baer to prove the point that he really was a bad man
and Braddock should win. During the fight, Braddock has visions of his family,
forcing him to fight even harder, winning him the victory. The film taught me
how men would do anything just to get money during this time.
Cinderella Man taught me that
life in America during the Great Depression was gruesome, hard, bloody, and
depressing. Cinderella Man is defiantly
one of my favorite movies and I enjoyed watching the film, rather than reading
a text about the Great Depression. I learned a lot about the time period, such as
“Hooverville,” debt, government relief offices, and boxing.
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