Chariots of Fire Response
Directions: Pick one of the following prompts and then respond to another person's post:
1. React to any aspect of the film you want.
2. Consider and react to the moral and political complications and dilemmas, do you think times have changed?
3. How does this film relate to Black Swan Green?
4. How would you change the film?
Number three asks how this film relates to Black Swan Green. I think that they are related in two ways. Jason watches Chariots of Fire in Black Swan Green with his mother. Another way they are related is that they have similar themes. Black Swan Green is about Jason's passion to write poetry and Chariots of Fire is about their passion of running. Both subjects are really good at what they do.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that both the movie and the book focuses on living up to your potential with both your talent and your passion.
DeleteI agree with Kaden's perspective on how Jason's focus in life is his poetry, while in Chariots of Fire, the focus of Eric and Harold is sprinting. Chasing one's dreams in life may be the most important decision to make.
DeleteI had a similar perspective on the comparison between the film and the book as well. I also included how it shows the obstacles that are present between a person and being their individual self. The examples I used were Liddell wanting to run but having the obstacle of religion, while Jason probably wants to be himself but has the obstacle of feeling pressured into appealing to the popular kids.
DeleteI think that the film relates to Black Swan Green through the aspect of someone coming up from desperation. In the book, Jason has a hidden talent for poetry, and he hopes that his talent could become his career later on his life. In the movie, Abraham had talent for running, and with the proper nurturing of his talent, he won the olympics. Both the book and the movie conveys the necessity to live up to your potential.
ReplyDeletevery well said Mr.Sen Choudhuri. I like how you pointed out that with good training they can succeed. I feel like the trainer for Jason was the lady that got extradited.
DeleteI agree with Kaden's remark on the similarities between Mrs. Crommelynck and Mr. Mussabini. Both of them played an important role in inspiring and training the protagonist, yet never received any respect outside of the protagonist.
DeleteI agree with what arun said, and would like to add that Jason and Eric also had similarities, where they also both face hardships and Eric refuses to run on Sunday while Jason must fight with how others look at him being a 13 year old poet
Delete3) This film relates to Black Swan Green due to the parallels that can be drawn between the character Liddel from Chariots of Fire and Jason from the book. Both characters face adversity in the face of what they believe in. Liddel refuses to run on the Sabbath, and Jason fears the stigma of being a 13 year old poet. At the end of the movie, Lindsay steps up to let Liddel run in his place, so he doesn't have to run on the sabbath, and we are yet to see how Jason solves his dilemma.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I love the way you brought up social stigmas within each respective society. They have a huge impact on a heroes journey.
DeleteI agree. I think that knowing the plot of Chariots of Fire could be foreshadowing Jason's future bravery and confidence in himself. We may see him stand up for himself soon.
DeleteI agree! The way that Eric Liddel steps out of his boundries and does what he's passionate about is a close parallel to what Jason seems to want to do, but is too scared to.
DeleteI also agree. Liddel understands his purpose in life whereas Jason is still trying to figure out who he his. When Eric runs he says he feels alive and confronts a challenge. Whenever Jason runs, he's avoiding conflict and hides in the woods from society.
Delete3. Throughout the film Chariots of Fire, the character Harold Abrahams goes through a journey of hardships and struggles to reach his final goal. Through the process of winning a gold medal, he finds himself and his place in the world. Very similar to this in Black Swan Green, Jason struggles through school and with those around him. He is yet to find his place in the world, however he would like to through poetry. Jason must overcome his hardships to become the poet he is mean to be. Both stories follow a determined individual who wishes to find their place in the world, but has to overcome problems to do so.
ReplyDeleteI agree, there are parallels between Jason and multiple characters from the movie! It's pretty fitting that David Mitchell chose this film to highlight in his novel.
DeleteI agree with this, and additionally both are very skilled at what they do which is what makes them so successful. Both also deal with many dilemmas and issues on their journey to success. Hopefully Jason will not hide his poetry anymore from the public and thus his story will turn out like Harold Abrahams, full of triumph and success.
DeleteI believe times have drastically changed as now I don't think it is as common to see people put religion before everything else. However, that may just be my opinion but even if athletes were like Eric and refused to participate on Sundays I'm sure they would either be kicked off the team or simply would not participate. I don't believe any special arrangements would be made for them. Additionally I don't think the Olympics are viewed as a political event, unlike the opinions of the committee, who viewed Eric's actions as not supporting England and acting against their country. Times have definitely changed as the Olympics are simply about athletics instead of moral and political dilemmas.
ReplyDeleteI agree that times have changed a lot since the time the film was set in. I think it's really interesting how you pointed out that athletes simply would not be allowed to participate if they refused to run on the Sabbath because I think it definitely shows the newer morals and values that society today holds.
DeleteI agree with the Olympics are focused on athletics instead about moral and political dilemmas. However I disagree that now a days people put religion first, I believe many people have lost faith in their religion and have most of their focus on money and business.
DeleteWhen you're the fastest man in England, I'm sure they would give you special benefits. It's true that the Olympics shouldn't be viewed as a political event but you have to realize that these men are representing the entirety of England. It's a pretty big deal if you disrespect your country as you are competing in the biggest tournament for them.
DeleteI agree to this, I think that times have changed and now if you do something like Eric did, you would face criticism for being disloyal to the country. I also agree to the fact that nowadays people focus more on their goals and leave their religion aside.
DeleteThis film relates to Black Swan Green because it shows how the protagonists motivate themselves to accomplish their passions despite facing opposition from the people around them. In Black Swan Green, Jason loves writing poetry, however, is afraid to showcase his talents to others because he fears judgment. In the same way, both Abrahams and Liddell face opposition in the film Chariots of Fire: people disapprove of Abrahams use of a professional coach while Jennie disapproves of Liddell running because he begins to neglect his responsibilities to the church. Still, despite all these obstacles that the protagonists face, they continue to work towards their goal until they are successful. Although we haven't seen the ending of Black Swan Green yet, I think it'll continue to showcase how Jason perseveres to become an even better poet in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the protagonists in both the film and the novel fight to protect their respective passions. I also look forward to seeing if Jason overcomes his fear of judgement to continue his poetry at the end of BSG.
DeleteI think these similarities are very apparent! I agree with the fact that all 3 characters in both works face opposition from those around them. While Jason fears judgment from his peers, I think that Liddell and Abrahams face people who oppose their dreams actively, but for Abrahams, his conflict is mainly internal. Abrahams isn't afraid of losing because of judgment like Jason is, he is afraid of losing because it will be a waste of all his sacrifices. I agree that Jason will persevere like Abrahams and Liddell to achieve his dreams.
DeleteI also thought that the main characters had beliefs and passions that they had to fight for, but I'm glad that in the end it all worked out. I hope that Jason will grow as a poet and a person towards the end of BSG.
DeleteHow does this film relate back to Black Swan Green?
ReplyDeleteIt relates back to Black Swan Green because they have a very important mutual theme, which is to have the perseverance to pursue what you want. In Chariots of Fire, the will of running is constantly being discussed and Abraham sees it as something he can never abandon. In Black Swan Green, Jason also does the same with poetry. Both of the works displays the importance of characters chasing after their talent and their dreams.
I agree that both Chariots of Fire and Black Swan Green have a same theme. As you wrote, they are both about character's desire to grant their dream and do what they want to do.
DeleteI agree with your overall opinion however I see that Jason is at a stage of accepting his dream and following it. while in the Chariots of Fire the characters are in a stage of struggling to achieve their dream. So in other words Jason knows the struggle to follow a dream based off the movies Chariot of Fire.
DeleteI don't think Abrahams' sees running as something he cannot abandon. He sees it more of a validation for his existence in his community and the world. Unlike some of the other athletes he doesn't simply run for his county, he runs for himself, just like how jason writes poems for himself not for others.
DeleteI felt that Chariots of Fire is related to Black Swan Green since passion and motivation are big themes in both. In Black Swan Green, Jason doesn't seem to have the motivation to stop the bullies. He thinks that doing something out of the norm such as telling the teacher about them bullying him and others will make him an outcast. Jason thinks that ranks are more important than doing the right thing. However, in Chariots of Fire, Eric refuses to run the race on sunday, even though he's in the Olympics. He follows his ideals and doesn't let anyone change his mind.
ReplyDelete1. I was surprised by how the film revitalized the gloomy perception of the 1980s while taking place in the mid-1920s. While both time periods share some similarities, the amount of nationalistic pride present in the movie intrigued me. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the beliefs of Eric Liddell as he struggled to maintain his religion in the midst of the Olympic Games - his refusal to train and/or compete on the Sabbath demonstrated his intense commitment to Christianity.
ReplyDeletei agree, he was very committed to his beliefs
DeleteI agree. The movie does an excellent job at describing the role of religion during the time of the story. It also shows the living conditions and past technology such as trains, newspapers, and traditional clothing.
DeleteI thought it was interesting how Liddell refused to run on Sunday and was so devoted to his religion that he was willing to drop out and lose his spot in the race. I think this sort of contrasts Black Swan Green because most of the boys in the book were afraid to speak their truth and stand up for what they believe in. In Chariots of Fire however, Liddell was confident in himself and his religion. This can also show the difference between the younger boys from the book and the more matured and driven men in the movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the boys in Black Swan Green are either scared of loosing their ranks or scared of the older kids, so they don't tell the truth. Liddell wasn't afraid of the shocked and negative responses and continued to follow his belief.
DeleteYour comment was interesting to read because I never thought about the differences between the characters in the film and movie. I think that Jason is going to grow up and be more mature like the characters in the film.
DeleteI think it's interesting that you mention that there is a difference between characters in the film and Jason because I think Mitchell includes the film in the book in order to emphasize the similarities between them, so I never thought of a difference
DeleteI think that in a way, Liddell's actions kind of parallel Jason's actions in regards to joining the spooks. Liddell believed throughout the movie that he could sustain his religious beliefs as well as his running career without conflict. Though others questioned him, he finally decided to be confident in his own beliefs. Similarly, Jason is a loyal friend to Moran. However, when the boys in the Spooks make him question his loyalty to Moran, he pulls through – despite what the other boys force him to think. Both characters learn to let their own personal principles prevail regardless of outside influences.
Delete#3 the film relate to Black Swan Green in two ways. First, Chariots of Fire was popular during the time period which Black Swan Green takes place in. Second, in both Black Swan Green and Chariots of Fire, they are about the deep side of the characters. For Black Swan Green, it is about Jason and for Chariots of Fire, it is about Abrahams.
ReplyDeleteI agree but I also think that they talk about Eric in the film as well because he does have to explain to his sister why he runs and he is doing it for god. Abrahams also has a deep side he wants to beat Eric and wants to bring glory to his school.
DeleteOne thing that really stuck out to me about the movie was the faces the runners made as they ran. At first it was kind of funny, but I realize that it's really the face of determination. They put all their effort and spirit into running that they can't hold it back when it shows on their face. It was something that made the movie feel a lot more realistic to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked was that the faces of the winners of the races are almost always the most expressive out of all the runners. It makes out running to be a competition between motivation and spirit.
DeleteI agree as well, especially when the movie focuses on Liddell's head going back when he runs. That was very revealing of how he runs like an animal, just leaving it all out on the field with nothing to hold him back.
DeleteI totally agree with you. the faces of each of the runners were very unique. Most of the faces were very Animal like,
DeleteBlack Swan Green emphasizes the events that lead to Jason's coming-of-age; thus, each chapter shows how Jason matures as a result of different lessons and challenges he faces. I thought that similarly, Chariots of Fire displays how Abrahams and Liddell's individual obstacles becomes fundamental to each of their successes and how these obstacles guide their further understanding of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree that both books had a very similar structure. Both initially set the scene, revealed a dilemma and then showed the character developments of each character as they solved their issues.
Delete1. I thought the ending was a complete 180 from what the viewer expected; it was strange how Liddel and Abrahams didn't end up directly facing off after a the whole movie built up their rivalry. The pair had many contrasting qualities and personality traits. For example, while Liddel was constantly firm in his purpose and goal for his running and his beliefs, Abrahams went through a personal discovery process, where he lost races, had to balance his personal life and training, and had to learn about his relationship with his religion. But they both had to struggle against organizations or men who wanted to hold them back. Liddel had to fight against the Olympic committee to be able to compete because he was firm in his belief to not race on Sunday,and they claimed he didn't have enough committment to his country. Abrahams had to fight the leaders at Cambridge about his training. Both of them had to fight this pervading sense of aristocratic propriety in society, and that conflict was more important than their rivalry. I felt the resolution of both of them winning their different events and coming together to win for their similar causes was more impactful than a sports rivalry.
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised that Liddell and Abrahams did not end up facing each other! I had initially thought that would be the climax and resolution, but I think that this ending allows for a story where everyone benefits from their own determination, and like you said, coming together to win for their similar causes is much more impactful than just having a winner and a loser.
DeleteFor prompt #3, the film relates to Black Swan Green in that like Jason from BSG, Abraham and Liddell have a gift that makes them who they are. For Jason, he has a gift of writing poetry and for Abraham and Liddell, they can run very fast. In both the film and BSG, the characters have to persevere through hardships in order to do what they love. Jason has to overcome his strong desire to fit in with the "barbarians." Liddell had to convince his sister that "God made [him] fast" and that he was meant to run. Abraham had to overcome anti-semitism and class prejudice in order to compete.
ReplyDeleteI agree and find it really interesting how you pointed out all their obstacles. I think Jason had to overcome the fear of being bullied and is finally starting to feel more confident. He might also eventually be able to overcome his fear and share his passion like the characters from the movie.
DeleteI agree with your overall view. I also see that Jason likes to write poems which is similar to Liddell who feels pleasure during running. Jason also has a desire to learn more about poetry. He was disappointed when Ms. Madame left.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that was very interesting about the film was that it was about running and the classes in the British, which have nothing to do with me. Yet, the movie still had plenty of parts that I could relate to, such as the runners dealing with things like stress, pain, defeat, victory, and joy and how they react to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The movie portrayed many aspects in life that everyone goes through. Especially when Abraham faces discrimination, the movie shows how hardships like these can push someone to pursue their dreams even further.
DeleteThe opening song during the run on the beach was quite interesting. The composer, Vangelis, is known for his contribution to the electronic music scene, used synths in the song even thought it sees to not fit with the era the film takes place in. You would think electronic tracks would be more fitting in sci-fi movies, which Vangelis did compose for as he did the soundtrack for Blade Runner a year after Chariots of Fire.
ReplyDeleteThis clashing between eras in the opening is the perfect start to the film because it is analogous with the contrast between Liddel and Abraham, two people competing in the same sport with vastly different backgrounds. Even though Liddel is a missionary and Abraham is a Cambridge student, there is a harmony between them and their aspirations, the same as how Vangelis's opening score fit in with the rest of the film.
One part of the film which I would change is when Eric Liddell has his race changed to the 400m instead of the 100m. I guess it gives some added tension, but most Olympics have a schedule that is known and could have been changed many days before the actual race. Liddell could have changed earlier and have practiced more for the 400m if he really did not want to race on a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWhen watching this film, I think it is interesting to see how times may have changed, because I feel that today, people would not have such a positive reaction to Liddell's decision to not run, and there would also likely not be as much attention around this issue, as religion generally plays a smaller part in society today than it did back then. I also felt that everyone in the film was very nationalistic, with the Olympic committee saying something along the lines of "king first, god second", and I feel like today, people don't have the same kind of intense sense of nationalism, and athletes compete for themselves first and their country second.However in the film, Liddell is expected to put his country over his own beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The movie placed a lot of attention on the issue of religion and the need to prove yourself to God. The runners themselves also seemed to constantly talk about how much they love their country and how they want to prove themselves as the best.
Delete3 . Throughout the movie "Chariots of Fire" , we see Harold Abraham struggling to win and working hard to achieve his goal of winning an olympic medal. Similarly, in BSG Jason is facing hardships and fears that he will be bullied, if he tells everyone that he is a poet. Through the process of hardships and failures both individuals become stronger and better at what they do. In addition to that, Jason also relates to Eric Lidle who finds his true self and refuses to give up his practices even when he is forced to do so. Similarly, Jason who thinks that he will face hardships if he tells everyone that he is poet, but that fear is not able to change him and the poet he is.
ReplyDeleteBoth sides from the book and film have a similar goal and show how the people ended up winning through their hardships and failures.
DeleteI chose to write about prompt number three, which asks how the film relates back to Black Swan Green. I think that the main characters in both have a talent that they want to use and show the rest of the world. In Jason's case it isn't directly, but he still wants his poems to be published even if it is under a false name. Abraham and Liddell want the world to know how fast they are and both of them need to face difficulties to obtain their goals. Abrahams faces authority figures trying to hold him back from his training and Liddell had to fight to compete in an event that wasn't on Sunday. I hope that the endings of the film and book will be similar in that, Jason will get what he wants and be proud of his skills just like Liddell and Abrahams did in the movie.
ReplyDeleteNumber one asks to react to any aspect of the film. In the film, both Liddell and Abrahams have the passion to achieve their goal. Along the way, both of them finds a lover. Unlike Mrs. Liddell who wants Liddell to stop running, Mrs. Abrahams gives Abraham her support all the way through. This shows that people view goals differently,and may or may not support one based on their own believes. In the end, Liddell was able to change from 100m to 400m last minute to avoid the conflict between game and church. Mrs. Liddell who highly values religion was satisfied by this change and came to watch Liddell's game. There may be many obstacles along the way, but as long as you think of another alternative, you can still get back on track.
ReplyDeleteOops.. I meant Liddell's sister
DeleteI think that times have definitely changed since the setting of the movie. In Chariots of Fire, there was a lot of religious and nationalistic sentiment influencing the actions and behaviors of characters. Abrahams was made fun of initially for his Jewish heritage, and the old dudes at Caius also interrogated Abrahams because of his "professional" training with Mr. Mussabini, the Italian coach. These days, nobody really cares about things like that. Most people think the same way as Abrahams did - as long as they can get good results, it doesn't matter who they are or where they are from.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat I said plus more: I agree that results definitely matter more but there is still a little bias, might even be subconscious, against certain ethnicities.
DeleteI agree with Jonah, there is still bias and nationalistic sentiment today, though far less than what was portrayed in the movie.
DeleteOne of the most dramatic moral/political dilemmas in the movie is Eric Liddell's conflict between competitive running and his religious convictions. He refuses to run on Sabbath, losing his spot in the race he had trained for and quite possibly putting his career on the line. I found his conviction enviable. It's rare to see people that take religion that seriously now, which serves as a reminder that life was different back then. I also admired Liddell for knowing that he runs to serve god. He demonstrates the sort of strength of conviction and purpose that I think is hard to find amongst people these days. LeBron James, for instance, faced a lot of backlash for seemingly kowtowing to Chinese money rather than standing up for what is right.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I think your comment is very insightful. I definitely agree that it is uncommon for people to remain true to their core values. Another example would be corrupt politicians, who may or may not take bribes, but they push for policies that appeal to their established fanbase.
DeleteFor prompt number 3, Chariots of Fire relates to Black Swan Green in that both characters have a talent that they pursue throughout the story. Furthermore, both characters go through obstacles in order to achieve personal growth and realization. In Black Swan Green, Abraham and Liddell are talented runners who go through their own hardships. Abraham experiences anti-semitism and Liddell has to prove to his sister that he runs to please God. In BSG, Jason is a talented writer who goes through family issues and bullying. Overall, the characters in both stories face challenges but reach fulfillment at the end.
ReplyDeleteI believe the books and film are similar and can relate to each other but on different notes. See how Jason struggles to accept his poetry dream and hasn't studdled to achieve yet. While in the film they have accepted what they want as a dream and are struggling to achieve in the Olympics.
ReplyDelete3. I think that Black Swan Green is very similar to Chariots of Fire because Jason and Eric in terms of their struggle. Eric does not want to run on sunday because of Sabbath. Jason is afraid to speak because of his stammer. THey both struggle with problem and Eric does find a solution in the end and Jason found a solution through poetry.
ReplyDelete4. I think the film was a great movie but there were some elements I had trouble keeping track of. I feel that the scenes that switched between abrahamas and lidell were too disconnected. I also think they rushed the Olympics part of the movie. An example of this is when they went from qualifying heats to the finals with only some small mentions of what was happening. To make the movie better, I might make it a little longer to extend these scenes a little more. To help with the Olympics part, I don't think qualifying heats should be mentioned at all.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree about the confusion and detachment between Harold and Eric. The progression of competition was definitely hard to keep track of, and I was unsure as to when Eric or Harold truly won the finals or if they only qualified in their respective heat.
DeleteJonah mentions that the two story lines were too disconnected. However, I think they are too connected. All the characters look and talk the same so I didn't even pick up that there were two concurrent stories until like 3/4ths through the movie.
DeleteI agree with what you said about how the Olympics part of the movie was rushed. I also thought that the movie could have introduced the characters to us better at the beginning of the movie.
Delete4. I believe a large portion of the film was irrelevant in the beginning and was hard to relate to the end of the movie. For example, the college he came from, Caius, seemed to become insignificant as the film progressed into the International stages of the competition. This movie could have had more character development about the background of Harold and the differentiating factors between him and Eric in a more expanded way. Eric's relationship with Jenny was confusing, as it seemed that she was trying to play a controlling factor in his life, when in reality he was trying to follow his passion.
ReplyDeleteI disagree because Jenny's seemingly controlling actions are important for Eric's dilemma. Jenny reminds Eric that he is letting running get in the way of his connection to God, and this reminder keeps Eric from wanting to run on Sunday. Without it, it would be harder to understand why Eric suddenly wants to risk his place at the Olympics because it's Sunday if we haven't seen any conflict between running and religion before.
Delete3. The film is related to Black Swan Green because they both powerfully demonstrate why someone does. In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell demonstrates his reasoning for running in a stern conversation with his sister Jennie. He wants to run for God and by winning, he will honor him. He also makes a firm stand not to run on the Sabbath, which shows his devotion to the Lord. Harold Abrahams runs for a completely different reason. He wants to prove to the world that he can be first despite all the oppression he and his fellow Jews have faced throughout history. He powerfully translates his anger and pain into the strength he needs to win first place in the olympics. Jason deals with a lot of problems in his life, with his stammer, his bullying, his parents situation, etc. He finds a way to channel his emotions through his poetry when he realizes that truth is beauty with Madame Crommelynck.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the movie sort of translates to Jason's life. Through Jason's life he has experienced hardships(his stuttering, parents relationship, him getting bullied), yet he finds a way to make something positive come out of it through his poetry. Just like the runner in the race, Jason shows passion towards his poetry and makes an effort to make it better through his sessions with madame Crommelynck.
Delete4. Overall, I enjoy the story and the way how each of the characters played their roles. However, I felt like the ending should have made the abrahams and liddell race each other to create more connections within the two characters. In addition, i think the movie shouldn't have emphasized as much for races for the United States and other country but instead more focus on the british team as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the movie should have emphasized the races between the British team themselves. I think that introducing the American competitors blurred the competitive spirit between Abrahams and Liddell, but I also understand how this movie was a point of national pride for Britain. Both the runners were able to win in the end for Britain and the main focus on the movie was the victory for Britain even though they were considered the underdogs in comparison to the well-trained Americans.
Delete#3: Chariots of Fire relates to Black Swan Green as the main characters face adversity. In Black Swan Green, Jason struggles to figure out himself, as he's not accepted by his peers in school, and hides behind a pen name when writing his poetry. Similarly, Liddell and Abrahams are both faced with challenges to their character in different ways. When his race occurs on Sabbath, Liddell is challenged by other men who want him to run and disregard his beliefs. Abrahams struggles with being accepted in his community and faces anti-semitism due to the fact that he is Jewish. He proves that Jewish people can run just as well as Christians by winning the race. Both Liddell and Abrahams conquer the adversity thrown at them, but we have yet to see how Jason will conquer his.
ReplyDelete3. Black Swan Green and Chariots of Fire are similar because they both show the evolution of a character. In Black Swan Green, the character is Jason and the reader can see how he becomes more mature and eventually embraces his poetry instead of shying away from it. In Chariots of Fire, the character is Eric Liddell and his journey to eventually running in the Olympics. Eric worried that his sister would disapprove just like Jason worried the other children would make fun of his poetry, but in the end, Eric accepted that he was fast and embraced his running.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comparison of Jason and Eric. The similarities between how the two characters are able to integrate different parts of their identities are interesting.
Delete3) Both Black Swan Green and Chariots of Fire describe someone's personal journey. Jason works to overcome his fear of bullies, while both Abrahams and Liddell work through various struggles to achieve their goals. Both Jason and Liddell hold values that seem to conflict with their goals, but they eventually find a solution to their problems. Jason sacrifices his short term popularity to save Dean, because he believes that it is right, and he eventually realized that being true to himself and his values is better than maintaining a superficial image to appeal to the popular kids. Liddell is very religious, and he stood up for his beliefs when he did not want to run on Sunday. Abrahams deals with discrimination because of his religion, just as Jason did not fit in with the other boys.
ReplyDeleteI feel like both Eric and Jason make decisions that save their integrity. When Eric chooses not to run on a Sunday, he cements himself as someone who is truly committed to God. When Jason goes to save Dean, he makes sure that he doesn't lose sight of his true friends and who he is as a person. To me, that is one of the biggest similarities between the film and the book.
DeleteI agree. I think one factor was also family - Liddell's sister, although she later supports him, was very much against his running career. Similarly, Jason often feels as though he is alone - he doesn't tell his family about his published poetry.
Delete4. If I could change the film, I would add more montages of both characters training with exciting music like from Rocky. I felt that some of the scenes with personal drama were dragging a bit, and I'd cut some parts out. I would also not shoot every single running scene in slow motion because that technique is repeatedly used, ruining its powerful imagery. Some of the scenes could be shot from the audience's point of view in normal time of the race, while others are from the runner's perspective in slow motion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you're saying. I also thought that every running scene should have been at least somewhat different. The slow motion every single time got tiresome. Additionally, I agree that there should have been a bit more focus on the races and how the characters developed rather than the drama between them. I felt that the personal drama was unnecessary because at the end, it amounted to nothing because the characters didn't even compete with each other. Abrahams was so set on trying to beat Liddell and he seemed very distraught by it, but at the end of the movie, there seemed to be no tension at all.
DeleteI agree with changing the techniques used in running scene. If they shot the running scenes from audience's perspective, the film could be more interesting. Also, using slow motion repeatedly could diminish the effects of powerful emphasis on their final moment.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete2. Eric Liddell demonstrates moral conviction when he chooses not to run in a race on Sunday as it is the Sabbath, and he believes his faith prohibits him from doing so. He puts his national pride and career on the line through this decision, as although the 1920s were considerably more religious than today, many people back then still would likely not understand his decision. Nowadays, many individuals often compromise their faith so they can achieve what they want or to appease other individuals. This decline in moral conviction can also be attributed to not only religion, but general values as well. Often times, politicians of today pander to their supporters to gain votes, and my not truly believe in what the preach. A modern day example of how athletes stand up for what they think is right were the NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Although their reason for kneeling is political and not religious, this example still shows how some individuals today are willing to risk their careers and public image for what they believe is right.
ReplyDeleteThe film relates to the book through the struggles and dilemmas the characters face. For example, Eric has to decide whether to run on Sunday and compromise his ideals similar to how Jason had to decide whether to save Moran or join Spooks. They both don't fall back on their ideals, and both struggle because of it.
ReplyDeleteI think that Chariots of Fire could definitely have been improved. It was a little hard for me to differentiate between characters because they were dressed alike or looked very similar to each other. I also thought the movie could have done a bit better in terms of progression. Some running scenes had the same format and some parts of the movie felt a bit dragged out. I also feel like the significant races could have had more screen time. However, I did enjoy the movie and thought the scene where Eric Liddell decided to opt out of his race for his sister was well done.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the movie could have been more clear. In the beginning of the movie it was unclear what exactly was going on and seemed that the climax of the movie would be Liddell and Abraham running against each other, not both of them facing challenges. I also agree that parts of the movie felt dragged out, especially the scene where they're preparing to run.
Delete1. I honestly think that the film was very enlightening. The flow of the events that take place were very smooth and understanding. The character that really caught my eye has to be Liddell. He was an amazing runner that many people highly respected. He especially caught my eye because he was one of those really religious people. He was so committed to his religion that he didn't want to run on a sunday. He sat out of the olympic games cause of his loyalty. Because of this action people throughout the country gave props to him because of his commitment ..
ReplyDelete4. I would elaborate on who some of the characters are. In the beginning Abrahams is in a cab with a friend of his, but it isn't clear who this friend is. Then, later on in the movie someone that looks like Abraham's friend in the cab is a famous runner from Scotland. I was confused as to whether the Scotland runner and the man in the cab were the same person. As neither got a proper introduction, I was left confused. There was also confusion regarding Jennie. Is she Liddel's wife, or his sister? I feel that if some of the minor characters got some more descriptions, the movie would be easier to understand.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was striking how Liddell refused to run on Sunday and was so committed to his religious belief that he accepted dropping out and losing his spot in the race. I think this sort of contradicts Black Swan Green because most of the boys in the book were afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they truly believed in. In Chariots of Fire however, Liddell was confident in himself and his religion. This also shows the difference between the younger kids from the book and the more matured and capable men in the movie.
ReplyDelete3. The film is related to Black Swan Green because they both powerfully demonstrate why someone does. In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell demonstrates his reasoning for running in a stern conversation with his sister Jennie. He wants to run for God and by winning, he will honor him. He also makes a firm stand not to run on the Sabbath, which shows his devotion to the Lord. Harold Abrahams runs for a completely different reason. He wants to prove to the world that he can be first despite all the oppression he and his fellow Jews have faced throughout history. He powerfully translates his anger and pain into the strength he needs to win first place in the olympics. Jason deals with a lot of problems in his life, with his stammer, his bullying, his parents situation, etc. He finds a way to channel his emotions through his poetry when he realizes that truth is beauty with Madame Crommelynck.
ReplyDelete3. The film relates to black swan green because the main characters in both have talents that they want to pursue. Jason has the ability to write poetry and Liddell and Abraham can run very fast. Jason always tries to fit in with the "barbarians" and hides his poetry because other people think it's "gay." Liddell has to convince his sister that God made him to run fast, and Abraham also goes through many hardships to reach his final goal.
ReplyDelete4. What I would change something about Chariots of Fire is more of a reaction and more of a build up after and before the race. For example, how Abrahams thought about after the race. We get somewhat of an insight to what he feels when he is getting ready for the race but I think it could have been more elaborate because after all it is the whole premise of the movie. Same goes for Eric although his is a little different. The first thing that came to my mind was to move the race day to another dy if he wouldn't be able to race. It was such a small obstacle and it was played like it was too much of a problem. It felt unrealistic to me. what i was shocked about wasn't that Eric wouldn't race it was more on how 5 grown men fell into a situation this easy to resolve. I feel like if there was a bigger dilemma it might have had more of an impact.
ReplyDelete3. How does this film relate to Black Swan Green?
ReplyDeleteOne of the clear relations between Black Swan Green and Chariots of Fire are that there are primarily British people in both stories as the main characters. Additionally, Chariots of Fire is directly referenced in Black Swan Green in the chapter Souvenirs when Jason goes out with his mother to see the movie. I'd also say that both stories are about people learning to accept themselves and following their passions even when facing obstacles. In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell feels that he was made fast so that he could compete in running and so he pursues that even while the obstacle of religion is present. In Black Swan Green, the obstacles of social structure and bullies often get in the way of Jason Taylor being his own individual self, as it usually results in him acting in favor of the popular kids. An example of this is speaking about his poetry.
Jason has several hardships in his life: getting bullied, having a stammer, and having his parents argue all the time. Through all these obstacles, he is still able to write poetry that gets published in the daily newspaper, showing how his passion has gained him respect from the newspaper(even though he uses a pseudonym).
Delete1.
ReplyDeleteColleges: "Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?"
Abraham: Yeah, once I got 2nd place in a race. I felt like I should have won. I was absolutely traumatized! But then, I practiced some more, so I won my next race.
Everyone: Wow, that is so deep and inspirational.
In my opinion, the movie wasn't that meaningful. Most of their problems weren't real problems and often the characters were whining over nothing.
Maybe it was just the way the movie presented their problems that made them less convincing. Like, Liddel says he can't run on Sunday, but the heat is on Sunday. Then five minutes later, he just decided to run on a different day. I don't get why all the characters were making such a big, dramatic deal.
Delete3) I think there are many parallels between Black Swan Green and Chariots of Fire, but I think the reason that Mitchell adds the film to the novel is as a sort of role model figure for Jason. Jason is always worried about his social class, and he is scared to open up about his passion, poetry, to even his closest peers. In the movie, Eric Liddell's passion is running, and even though he is discouraged by his sister and the church, he does not give it up, and instead pursues it. This would be a good lesson for Jason to learn - he should proudly write poetry an be true to himself rather than bow down under the pressure of his peers. Also, the way Abrahams deals with prejudice and discrimination is relevant to Jason, as he is bullied for his stammer. Jason could learn from Abrahams' strength and determination, and how he stands up against adversity.
ReplyDeleteYour point about Chariots of Fire being a positive example for Jason is very interesting. He seemed very excited to see it in the novel.
DeleteI agree, I think Jason can learn a lot from the characters in this movie.
Delete4. I think that in The Chariots Of Fire, there are too many minor characters, and what they're doing interferes with what else is going on in the film. Abraham goes to the Olympics with three of his friends/teammates, but they have done so little that I don't remember their names. One of the teammates who writes letters seems to just be put into the movie for exposition, to tell to his mother(and to the audience) what is currently happening. Another teammate(I think he's the rich one) races Abraham in the beginning of the movie, but he doesn't do much else that I can remember. The two american runners are mentioned once, then practically disappear. The one with the beret writes a note to Liddell, but I don't feel much a sense of friendship or rivalry because they were only shown once or twice. Showing all these minor characters feels like filler that doesn't convey any meaningful emotions to the audience or between the characters. I like the rivalry that Abraham and Liddell have, but it is overshadowed by all the other competitors, and their glory is divided among their teammates. I feel that the movie would have had a stronger impact on me if they focused more on Abraham, Sam, and Liddell, and the relationship or rivalry between the three.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this. Most of the side characters from Cambridge are pretty much useless in the movie, except when one of them gave his spot to Eric Liddell. I also feel that the American runners were hyped a lot, only for them to disappear towards the end. Given that the movie gave the American runners so much attention, it was disappointing to see the American runners not featured more in the race itself.
DeleteYes, I agree with this. I feel that the main characters weren't developed enough and as a result, we don't become emotionally attached or invested in the main character's success. They also jump around too much in the plot and it just confuses the story.
Delete4. I believe that the movie would have been much more enjoyable if it were centered more on one character specifically. The dynamics of Abraham's struggles to become the best while working through difficulties such as him being a Jew and also the college not wanting him to have a trainer were some of the most interesting parts of the movie to me, while Liddell's story seemed very bland. The plot of Liddell's refusal to run on Sunday was very boring to watch for me, and I feel the movie would have been better off if it focused more on Abraham's instead.
ReplyDeleteThe side characters besides Sam Mussabini were also really in the movie for no reason. I couldn't tell any of them apart, and none of them were memorable at all. Of the three runners from Cambridge (Lord Andrew Lindsay, Aubrey Montague, and Henry Stallard), only Lindsay actually matters because he is the one who offers to give up his spot for Liddel. I feel that the movie would have been better off if it either developed those characters more, or if it just didn't include them entirely.
I agree that it would've been much more interesting to delve deeper into the storyline of one character rather than spending time on multiple, less important characters. It would have been nice to see more of the conflict between Abraham and his girlfriend, Sybil, whom he neglected for his running training.
DeleteThe Chariots of Fire is similar to Black Swan Green when it comes to the advisor who pulls main character's talents to maximum. In Black Swan Green, Jason discovers his talents and starts to know what the beauty truly means with the help of madame crommelynck. She leads Jason to realize his talents and further develop it by giving him assignment - translating the French poem. Similarly, the coach Sam Mussabini trains Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell so that they could perform best as they can in the race. Both madame crommelynck and sam mussabini are important figures to the main characters in book and film respectively. Without them, Jason, Abrahams, and Liddell might have hard time finding and improving their talents. Also, both the Black Swan Green and the Chariots of Fire talk about their passion. Jason enjoys writing poem, and Abrahams and Liddell love running.
ReplyDelete2) Liddell has his own moral dilemma when it comes to not running on the Sabbath. Largely in part due to his Jewish identity, society around him doesn't understand his own moral obligations, but he ultimately follows his own beliefs and chooses not to run. This relates to instances in society now such as Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem. He is following his own beliefs and peacefully protesting, yet many in society fail to understand and support him. Although he lost his career in the NFL, he prevailed in bringing awareness to police brutality and racism. Times definitely have changed, but haven't fully evolved to allow individuals to make reasonable and healthy decisions for themselves without repercussions.
ReplyDelete1. I found the men running on the beach at the beginning and end of the film to be interesting. It kind of displays how people from different classes and backgrounds, such as Liddell and Abraham, come together to compete. The runners go through many hardships and stress, similar to how us students go through stress in school. I also found the facial expressions of the runners to be interesting, like how Liddell always tilts his head back and opens his mouth up at the end of the race.
ReplyDelete2. In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell decides to not compete on a race on Sunday because of his devotion to his religion. His sister, Jennie Liddell, does not approve of his running career and accuses him of no longer caring about God. These examples reveal the greater priority that was placed on religion in the 1920s in comparison with today, where many people choose to compromise their religious faith to further advance in something.
ReplyDelete4. I feel that the movie didn't develop a clear plot enough and I had trouble understanding what problem or challenge the characters were overcoming. If I were to change the movie, I would emphasize the importance and struggles of a Jewish figure like Abraham representing his country. As for Eric Liddell, I think the movie did a better job of representing his struggle in the movie, but they could've emphasized the contrast between how Scottish people and mainland Englishmen felt about about Liddell's decision to not run on the Sabbath, and present the every-present struggle between Scottish and British identity. Additionally, just for entertainment, the movie should have built more suspense and more of an opposition force against the main characters.
ReplyDelete