Once or twice every week, my wife and I settle down to watch a movie on Netflix or Prime Video. After often arguing over the genre – whether it’s Korean horror, Japanese Manga-based movies, Romcoms, or Historical “based on true stories” kind of movies – this Sunday, we settled on ‘A Man Called Otto’, starring my personal favorite, Tom Hanks.
Oh, what an amazing experience! The manner in which grief and sadness have been portrayed, and the way the makers have handled a sensitive topic like #suicide and hope, brought many tears to our eyes.
Long after the movie ended, I couldn’t help but think about suicide and the feeling of losing hope completely. I, for one, never ever think of suicide as an act of cowardice. It takes real guts to even contemplate ending one’s life – ironic but true.
Otto, Marisol, Malcolm, and the rest of the cast taught me valuable lessons. My top three favorite lessons were:
1. Everyone has a story and a background. What they go through at that moment is something you have never experienced in the same way. So, shut your mouth and do not judge!
2. People want to help, maybe in their own unconventional way. Like Otto simply helping Tommy parallel park his car grumblingly, or him barging into Anita’s home to fix their radiator. People want to help. Trust them. Goodness exists!
3. Never give up on your relationships, especially when they are at their worst. Life is not a bed of roses for everyone. Sometimes, the person closest to you is unable to open up and seek help. Keep your ego in your pocket and help!
Have you watched this movie yet? What are your lessons from it? What moved you the most?