Running Brave

Running Brave: A bit cliché, but still a good story

My reaction to the movie Running Brave is quite simple. It is a great movie, but it is nothing out of what people are used to see. It is about a poor boy, an outcast at first that tries to do something different and to pursue his dreams. When he is finally starting to accomplish them, trouble and discourage come in the way, causing the boy to leave everything and almost quit. Then, noticing how wrong he was, he comes back and wins the grand prize at the end. Most of this is what we see in almost every other inspirational movie of pursuing your dreams and all that, but what really is surprising about the story is that it actually happened. I think it adds a little something extra the fact that Billy Mills exists and that he actually accomplished his dreams.

On the other hand, this movie was a bit different from other stories that treat racism, poverty and other society problems. Something I really admire from what happened at the story is that our protagonist was not this stupid stereotype that is bullied by everyone who thinks he’s inferior and does nothing about it. At least we see that he was not abashed of his ancestors (even though he had some identity issues) and was willing and able to fight back. This fighter attitude is what drove him to pursue and accomplish his dreams at the end of the movie. 

Regarding Billy's identity I must say I'm impressed by his attitude because even though he was in a completely different environment, away from the reservation and his family, he quite kept his identity and personality the same. Yes, he had some changes as of his view of the place but he still loved it and the people inside it just the same. The change in perspective he went through was completely natural and, at least in the movie, it doesn't look like they were prejudicial to him.
If I was going to compare my identity with Billy's I would say that I wish I had his force of character, because, personally, I believe that I am a little weak in that aspect. Actually, I identify a little with Billy because I know what it feels like to know you do not fit anywhere, but, just as Billy, I always try to make the best of it and I think I have succeeded in that matter at least.

Last, but not least, to avoid the cliché of the protagonist being most people’s favorite character, I must say that my favorite character in the movie was Pat, the protagonist’s girlfriend. I admire her fighter attitude because Billy was not the only one judged for being Indian; also his girlfriend was kind of shunned because she was willing to be in a relationship with him. I also admire how she never left him and stood by his side in his good and bad moments. Before ending, I must say that the movie is quite inspirational and it asks everyone who sees it: what’s your excuse to not pursue your dream and do something?

                                                      Image taken from: www.cineplex.com

                                                    RUNNING BRAVE, Robby Benson, 1983, (c) Buena Vista Pictures