Real life includes inspiring stories
I love movies.
Movie critics? Now that's a different story.
I just pulled the move "Mr. Holland's Opus" out of my movie collection. In this movie, it seems, people (in this case teachers) are generally good, even if they make bad decisions. Problems often can be overcome if we all work together. Despite temporary setbacks, things will turn out OK if we just do our best.
When this movie was first previewed back in 1994, the main criticism of many reviewers (and others) seemed to be that the intent of the film was to inspire us, make us feel good, pull on our heart strings. Richard Dreyfuss (who plays the title character), the writers, director, producer, even the composer of the movie score, had all conspired to present a tale that was simplistic, manipulative and shallow despite it inspirational pretensions.
Is this film really guilty of propagating such "falsehoods?" Well, yes and no.
Mr. Holland does go from being a disillusioned, somewhat cynical composer who teaches just for the money to believing he can - and should - make a difference in the lives of the students he teaches. However, he is not the most lovable character in the beginning; we get a chance to see him grow into his convictions.
And he does reconcile with his estranged son who is born deaf and unable, Holland assumes, to understand his passion for music. But this happens after a dozen years of painful distance between the two that almost destroys both family and marriage. And the son does not miraculously gain his lost sense of hearing; he ends the film still deaf and struggling, albeit successfully, with the multitude of challenges such deafness creates.
Mr. Holland does become an inspiration to his students and teaches them to love music as he does. Yet one of his students dies in Vietnam, another becomes an opponent in a school board battle. And though he eventually chooses to uphold his professional values, he teeters for an excruciatingly uncomfortable time on the edge of a student/teacher infatuation.
Even the poignant and uplifting ending to this film is not without its reality. Though staff and students reunite to celebrate his career, he also has lost his fight to save much of what he spent his career creating.
That all sounds pretty real to me. But maybe if I had to spend my time watching as many movies as most critics do, I'd be rather cynical too. Who knows?
As a therapist, however, I've seen proof that the sort of change, commitment, inspiration, community, reconciliation, healing and fulfillment this movie presents is a reality in the lives of many people. Certainly, it is not commonplace. Certainly, it is usually spread out over a lifetime of living, a lifetime that includes more than a few disappointments, failures and defeats, and the pain, sadness and disillusionment that go with them. Yet time and time again I have seen people rise above their circumstances as Mr. Holland and other characters in this film do and live a life worth living.
"Mr. Holland's Opus" is as much about reality as the best action film, crime drama or romantic tragedy. It may be a reality that is too seldom portrayed, but it is real, nonetheless. Thanks to the people who made this film for reminding us.
• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."