Good Movie Review On Benefits And Detriments Of A Traditional Family

The topic of the traditional family and its fundamental values has always been in the spotlight of heated debates. Is family a truly powerful environment that gives an impetus to molding the person’s character and shaping his attitude to reality? Or should we accept marriage just as a legally defined union between two people that is dictated by the social norms and tions? The answer may be not that unanimous and easy to find since everyone has his own vision and can advocate both suggestions by referring to their strong and weak sides. The film “One True Thing”, directed by Carl Franklin, is interesting at this point because it gives an insight into the complex bounds existing between members of a family and their gradual change and development over the time.
The plot of the film is structured as a confession of the main heroine Ellen Gulden to the district attorney about the changes that unfolded lately in her family. The intervention of the life flashbacks and Ellen’s comments bring the wielded feelings and emotions to the surface and make the story extremely personal and sincere. Ellen Gulden grew up admiring the ideal image of her father, who was a university lecturer and always boaster about being an exceptionally talented writer. The most important thing for the young woman, who graduated from Harvard and found herself on the brink of promising writing career in the New York magazine, was recognition of society and, especially, of her father. However, the ambitious and career-driven aspirations got ruined the day when she found out that her mother was diagnosed with cancer and will undergo a serious operation soon. Ellie obeys to her father and returns home to help her mother during what was meant as a period of recovery but ended up as the last months of her life journey.
The primary issue raised by the film is the evolution of family relationships under the pressure of time and different stressors like, for instance, the described terminal illness. Ellie always harbored doubts on her mother and dismissed her homebound life style. The idea of jeopardizing her journalist career and becoming just like her mother dragged the main heroine into moral decay. Soon, however, she began to look at surrounding reality in a different, more adult way and came to understanding that her mother, in fact, served as that mediating point that always held the family together and ensured their unity. Kate was a true example of moral wisdom and a steady guardian of home coziness. She devoted all her life to creating a comfort zone for her husband and beloved children, even though her unconditional love and care were not always welcomed. The unexpected grief turned the determined world of the Gulden family upside down and everyone suffered from the impending death in his own way. For Ellie, the ideal image of father is dispelled and instead she sees an average philanderer, who does not want to ruin his daily routine by any inconveniences. Only mother’s last words about marriage as a union full of happiness and sorrows help her understand that only compromise and mutual respect can ensure people from drifting apart and accepting all the fallibilities.
The notion of traditional family can, of course, have its detriments like the necessity to sacrifice all personal ambitions and future plans for the sake common welfare. However, its benefits are much more valued. You live with a strong understanding that there are people who will always stand on your side and support you in any circumstances. The unconditional love glues people together and helps them to overcome any obstacles and handle any situations.