Jun 25, 2010 04:10 PM
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Let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr, but let no one lust for martyrdom.
Mohandas Gandhi
Recently I saw Taking Chance (2009) on a movie channel. Once I started watching this movie, I was completely hooked to it.
The movie has a very simple story, Lt.Col. Micheal Strobl (Kevin Bacon) is based at a cubicle at a marine base, juggling between the rise in number of casualties at Iraq and replacing them. Since he lacks recent war experience, his choices are rejected. Somewhat frustrated, one night he randomly decides to escort the remains of a Pfc (private first class – 3rd lowest in US Army) Chance Phelps, who was killed at the age of 19. He escorts him from Dover till Wyoming, by air and road. The major story covers his journey and his experiences as he carries him. How his remains are perfectly cleaned and his uniform is stitched with perfection, inspite of knowing the fact, that it won’t be an open coffin. How people, complete strangers, grieved on the death of a soldier, how they reflected their gratitude to Strobl for escorting him to his hometown. The pride and grief in the expressions, with their tiny gestures, whether it was giving a small cross for the family or bending the rules a little or kind words. It was a soul stirring journey.
When he reaches his hometown, Strobl is really grieving, at a point he says, he died so young and he is still here, feeling guilty to be alive, on which he gets the reply -
“And you think you're not? Want to be with your family every night - you think you have to justify that? You'd better stop right there, sir. You've brought Chance home. You're his witness now. Without a witness, they just disappear.”
The movie is based on real life events, Directed by Ross Katz and written by Ross Katz and Micheal Strobl. This movie got many nominations and awards, including golden globe for Best Performance by an Actor (Kevin Bacon) in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television.
As I watched the movie, I felt as I was also amongst the people who grieved on the death of Chance, for me he represented a soldier, who lost his life, for the sake of his country, for me.
