Personal development advices can spring up from the most unexpected places. I’ve written in this blog post about such advices in 3 non-American movies I watched during the pandemic.
1. Thelma (2017, Norwegian, drama/mystery/thriller):
Get ready to be mind blown by this piece of art.
Thelma is a student in Oslo, who grows increasingly aware of her different sexual orientation. Being raised in a deeply religious family, she’s between a rock and a hard place. As she struggles to keep her emotions and desires in check when near a certain woman, she becomes aware of the paranormal powers within her. This inner conflict is the trigger for the emergence of her powers. Or is it a re-emergence? You’ll have to find out by watching this movie.
Key takeaway (personal development metaphor): Don’t suppress your inner power because of someone else’s beliefs.
2. El Hoyo (2019, Spanish, sci-fi/horror):
It’s one of the most symbolism-driven movies I’ve seen in a while.
Set in a bone-chilling prison, El Hoyo (The Platform) depicts the struggle of men when food is scarce and personal beliefs don’t really matter. The religious symbolism in the movie is so well done that I had to read some reviews to actually get a sense of it all. It also shows the depravity of the human condition in a setting of scarce resources. Hunger and fear are invasive emotions in the brain and they overwrite the need for solidarity and problem solving.
P.S. The movie is gory here and there, and in grisly detail.
Key takeaway (personal development metaphor): Our primitive brain is still the number one enemy to our personal growth.
3. On Body and Soul (2017, Hungarian, drama/fantasy/mystery):
It’s one of the most surreal movies I’ve seen, and it tops many American movies of this sort.
It tells the story of two introverted coworkers who start to fell in love with each other, as if drawn by an invisible thread. They have the same dream every night, and decide to make it true.
All the main characters in the movie are archetypes of real people with real problems in love and relationships that you can see every day. It’s masterfully done but not for the faint hearted.
Key takeaway (personal development metaphor): Everyone is a unique soul in its own right. We only have to understand them a little better before judging them.
I do appreciate your comment on this topic. Maybe you’ve seen a good movie lately with hidden personal development advice. Please share it with us.
If you liked this blog post, then you might be interested in the following one as well: 20 life lessons from Wu-Tang Clan’s success