Mcfarland, USA (2015) [Movie Review]



Dir: Niki Caro
Starring: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello
Dur: 2 hrs 9 mins
Genre: Biography
Rating: 9/10

“Life is difficult” as Scott Peck eloquently said. Every one of us has our problems. Some of us succumb to them while others rise up and face them courageously. The former are what we commonly call “losers/failures” while the latter are “winners/achievers”. Everybody likes stories of “winners” because they are more interesting and inspiring while stories of “losers” are boring. All of us want to be “winners” or “achievers” but few of us are willing to take on the challenge and beat our odds. I am a huge fan of people who beat the odds and achieved something in life. Mcfarland, USA tells such a story, so it found its place in my ‘must-watch’ list.

The story dates back to the late 1970’s. Jim White (Costner) and his family are on the move… again, because he can’t seem to keep a job for too long. His last assignment ended when he lost his temper and threw a shoe at an arrogant player. His new job lands him in totally unfamiliar territory, Mcfarland – the Mexican section of the United States. His job as PE teacher in the local school helps him get in touch with the Latino culture; besides his social interactions help him and his family to overcome their prejudices. He is observant of the lads and their culture and quickly realizes that some of them have a gift for running. Over time he is able to reach out to them and train them as runners. The struggles he goes through are the same ones all others trying to bring out the best of young people, face. Despite the odds he tries to win the hearts of the boys by getting into their shoes. Soon, he realizes that the things he takes for granted are serious issues for the young lads. Inspiration serves to light up the candles that are the lives of the boys. He invites them to dream big dreams and achieve things they never thought possible. The “failure” teacher and coach learns his lessons the hard way and ends up getting his students to do what no one, not even they, thought possible. The Mcfarland school went on to win 9 cross-country championships over 14 years.

The story is brilliant. The fact that it is based on real events makes it all the more attractive. The drama is kept to a minimum and the focus is on the facts. The film is well directed and the actors do a convincing job. The film inspires. If you really get into it, you can’t keep back the emotions it creates and stirs up. I recommend this to all educators. It affirms the theory that “no one is useless. Everyone has potential and all they need is for someone to help them discover and nurture it.” The film portrays a wonderful philosophy of education that is in line with the Salesian method. This could be the film that could change your outlook towards education. For those who practice something similar, it could serve as positive reinforcement and for those looking to find inspiration, simply watch it!    

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