Screen Inspirations. Films That Brilliantly Portray the Human Psyche

Screen Inspirations. “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy (2001–2003), dir. Peter Jackson

It is challenging to find a more inspiring fictional world than that created by Master Tolkien. Although the fandom was full of apprehension when the film adaptation was being made, the result exceeded expectations. After more than 20 years, the trilogy has aged like fine wine and risen to the status of a classic. The craftsmanship of the creators who participated in making one of the last great productions without overusing green screens is awe-inspiring today.

The world of “The Lord of the Rings” is filled with colorful and inspiring characters (not just those forming the Fellowship of the Ring), played by actors with great panache. Although the film’s action occurs in a non-existent world, the characters’ problems are ultimately universal. 

The hobbit Frodo, as the film’s story develops, transforms from a naive boy (although in the book he was several decades old) into a mature character torn by internal conflicts. His struggle with the dark side of his personality is metaphorically represented by the battle with the ring, which tries to impose its will on the hero. Frodo must constantly make difficult choices, both conscious and unconscious, and, for example, he must decide whether to embark on a mortally dangerous quest.

It may seem that the young hobbit from the Shire simply announced on the spur of the moment: “I will go. I will take the Ring to Mordor!” during the council at Elrond’s. However, if we look more closely at the scene, like Frodo himself, we will see in the reflection of the Ring the flames consuming all the daredevils, quarreling over who should carry the ominous magical object to Mount Doom to destroy it. One could say that the hobbit’s reaction is a noble act of heroism, rooted in an altruistic disposition. But if we include a broader context of the situation in our analysis, the hero’s attitude will appear more nuanced to us.

No good and noble deed is ever absolutely selfless. Perhaps Frodo was overwhelmed by an immense fear that everything and everyone he loves would cease to exist if someone did not put an end to evil once and for all. He preferred to take an enormous risk and try to preserve the world as it had been until now, rather than rely on others, give them agency and deprive himself of any influence over the threatening situation. (He was aware of the danger, as Gandalf, whom the hobbit trusted unconditionally, had explained everything to him).

Frodo’s act of courage is an excellent illustration of how a person often prefers to take even the greatest risk rather than deprive themselves of control.

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Screen Inspirations. “Hacksaw Ridge” (2016), dir. Mel Gibson

Good war films have the potential to tug at heartstrings, particularly male ones, right from the start. “Hacksaw Ridge” is a must-see for those seeking reinforcement when they have doubts about whether staying true to one’s principles is the right approach. 

The film’s main character, Desmond, a member of the Adventist Church, enlists in the army but refuses to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs. In the throes of pre-deployment preparations, Desmond faces varied reactions from military personnel. Some explain that weapons are essential for survival in battle, while others mock him. Occasionally, he endures harassment and aggression from commanding officers.

Upon learning of his assignment to Okinawa in the American-Japanese Pacific War, the young conscientious objector maintains his convictions. He steadfastly holds that using weapons designed to take lives conflicts with his values. Consequently, he resolves to engage in the opposite on the front lines – saving rather than taking lives – by serving as a medic.

In Okinawa, Desmond witnesses the true hell of war. He confronts the very experiences that nearly drove his father to madness (and led to violence against the family) – the young man’s innocent worldview buckles under the emotional weight of his comrades’ anguished cries.

Yet the stubborn Adventist demonstrates that innocence can coexist with valor and extraordinary courage. His entire unit becomes trapped in a deadly predicament, awaiting dawn and the enemy’s renewed assault. Wounded soldiers lack the strength to descend the cliff. Under cover of darkness – despite being an easy target for enemy fire – the unarmed Desmond crawls laboriously to carry his injured comrades on his shoulders. With each rescued soldier he lays down, his strength wanes, but he turns to God with the plea: “Just one more.”

Thus, Desmond commits all his resources to the fight for others’ lives: physical strength, cunning, courage, value system, and faith. This sustains his motivation throughout the night, enabling him to save 75 comrades. The young man sets a lofty goal, achieving it through small, incremental steps. The story becomes even more inspiring when one realizes it is based on true events.

“Avatar” (2009) and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), dir. James Cameron

The first installment of James Cameron’s universe became the highest-grossing film of all time. “Avatar” was the first feature-length production made in 3D technology. One could literally “enter” a world where local nature had to confront human greed and ruthlessness towards creatures deemed inferior. The visually striking work became a pretext for lively debates on ecology and respect for our planet.

Over a decade after the premiere of the first “Avatar”, we finally received a sequel. In the case of “The Way of Water”, the lack of novelty effect allowed for a greater appreciation of aspects other than the visual. If we manage to treat the beautiful scenery as a distractor, we can find a great deal of added value in it.

Jake Sully, the main character known from the first part, who found home and love in an alien world, serves here as an excellent example of a wise father. In the sequel, his children are on the cusp of adulthood. His eldest son Neteyam causes him the most worry. Young, angry, and eager to fight, Neteyam seeks revenge and duels. Jake shows him that strength is not about seeking quarrels and must always be accompanied by mercy. This is revealed when, knowing one’s advantage over an opponent, one refrains from delivering the final blow.

Jake has always been guided by the well-being of his children, which often forced him to make difficult choices. The film portrays love that sometimes requires an outwardly cool and firm stance. Although Neteyam’s behavior angers his father, Jake’s reaction is devoid of violence. He allows his child to learn from his own mistakes. This does not mean, however, that the teenager is left to his own devices. The parent is always ready to come to his aid. He knows that at a certain age, a son particularly needs his father and that during the period of “storm and stress” that is adolescence, a father’s role is to impart knowledge about how to navigate a world that can be as dangerous as it is beautiful.

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Screen Inspirations. “Beautiful Boy” (2018), dir. Felix Van Groeningen

Another example of a film father worth emulating is David Sheff (Steve Carell). In the movie Beautiful Boy – based on the autobiographical book by the real Sheff titled “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction” – he fights for Nic, who is addicted to drugs. The son’s illness leaves its mark on the entire family, and David often must choose between the safety of his other loved ones and showing patience towards the teenager.

The father’s love in this picture is evident not only in numerous acts of understanding, support, tenderness, and relentless fight for the child’s health. These are accompanied by an attitude that often requires courage and firmness. At one point, David faces a reality that is difficult for him to bear. Following the recommendations of addiction therapists, he sets strong boundaries for Nic and does not give in when the boy asks him for money. Despite the immense suffering caused by temporarily distancing himself from his child, he decides to do so, understanding that he cannot simultaneously yield to the teenager and care for his siblings and wife.

The film shows that fatherhood is not idyllic. Being a father is often a challenging task. From David’s perspective, Nic was a happy child, or at least he thought so. He always cared for a good relationship between them. However, David did not notice that something was happening to his son. Entering adolescence, the boy did not receive the proverbial permission to leave the nest. The strong feeling of closeness between father and teenager at this time was too overwhelming for Nic, as the attempt to build his own identity – and consequently, full individuation – aroused guilt in him.

Most importantly, David seeks answers to questions about the cause of his son’s problems, even if it requires accepting bitter truths about himself.

Time for a screening

The films mentioned in the text provide much entertainment but also show many positive characters with whom a young person can identify, and many attitudes worth emulating. Each of these pictures shows struggles with everyday life, which is the main force affecting the human psyche. How individual characters deal with life’s challenges is worth discussing right after a shared family viewing. For there is probably nothing better than a good film that gives us much to think about.

Translation: Klaudia Tarasiewicz

Read the text in Polish: Ekranowe inspiracje. Lista filmów, które doskonale obrazują ludzką psychikę