Movies

In every film or movie that hits the theaters, we see it just another story we heard or seen before, it was like our daily routine in reality but somehow just out of curiosity we still went and see to satisfy our minds and even our  hearts.  A movie is different from a film in a way that the first the intention was to entertain while the second teaches us something beyond what we see and hear, it could also let us understand the historical background of our country and how our people able to survive certain tragedies that befall our nation.

The film Cinderella man is not just another typical story of boxing, but gives us the glimpse of what is America before- the power and greatness it holds today, the film was set in year of Great Depression, not only for America but all over the world. The film is set to see how the people, government, the rich, the poor, employed and the unemployed cope with this series of events in America, and how they were able to face each day with hope and faith that this kind of struggle will end.

The Cinderella Man represents each person in America he feels the struggle, the pain, the hardships and the lost of everything he worked for. The film shows how a man stands from all the problems he is face with, and how America become a great nation, the society that surrounds him help realize the true strength within and was able to prove his worth.

    Films and movies are made for us to learn something and use in the current situation we are in, in this film it could be said that to prevent another depression we should be more aware of what our world is in, others could say that from falling apart other good things arise, we learn to fight and learn to give up and somehow we become a better person for the world to see, we need to learn to appreciate our history and respect it.

CULTURE OF AMERICA IN 1930s
Set in 1929, the Age when most of America was reeling under onslaught of the Great Depression, the movie Cinderella Man comes across as a very fine depiction of that era. It too only conveys the mood of the people which was of hopelessness and despair, but it also depicts the heroism of individuals in difficult times. Their refusal to succumb to character lapses, as well as their endurance to struggle for their families with a clear conscience.

Additionally, Expressen (Sweden, 1201) states that the screenplay beautifully portrays the relationship Braddock had to his family. Its more than a boxing film. Because of this, the once close-tied family values that Americans had was exposed in a most dramatic and unconventional way. It is a fact that the family is the center of a mans life in the American culture and that one would do anything for them, just as what Braddock did for his family in the film, during the Great Depression days in the United States in the 1930s.

Socio-political riots, obstructions, and crimes had aroused in the film. Civil unrest was significantly reported all because of poverty, oppression, and unbalanced economy. Civil disorder as purported in Wikipedia.org is a byproduct of economic slowdown, severity of inflation, political crisis, unemployment, and even sporting events in other nations. Indeed, it was far worse than the recession that the Americans have been experiencing today.

Cultural History of the Grotesque (1997), that art serves as a function of culture and as indicators of a nations mentality. The plot of Cinderella Man weighs winning and losing in superlative perspectives, to win the game means a lot for it defines how much food and shelter one could owe to his family especially that it was set in the Great Depression days. Jim needs more than a bucket of motivation to pursue his career. He was soulfully inspired by his lovely wife, Mae and by his understanding kids.
Murray Newton Rothbard (Americas Great Depression, 1963) defines the crisis stemming from under-consumption or a failure of consumer demand for goods at prices that could be profitable. Rothbard connotes the period as a wasteful misinvestment or the particular time where errors are made, due to bank credits tampering with the free market. He defines crisis as when the consumers redress their desire for things. To quote, the depression is the actual process by which the economy adjusts to the wastes and errors of the boom, and reestablishes efficient service of consumer desires. In that time, the worst economic turmoil was experienced by the crippled masses in the entire U.S. History.

The Great Depression began in 1929 in America and lasted for almost a decade. As this was said to be the worst depression after the dawn of the industrial age, a ripple like effect was felt all over the industrialized countries. The reason for the depression being overproduction with the help of the newly discovered machines, versus the inability of the masses to consume the produce. It caused the stock market to spiral down, out of control, and caused the major slump.

Financial institutions and banks were forced into insolvency causing millions to lose money. The faith of the people in the government and their own future was lost. So the rich spent less. The decrease in the spending capacity meant decreased production, forcing thousands out of employment. The Cinderella Mans story is dated right in the middle of The Great Depression. The movie beautifully depicts the culture at that time. The dark age is emphasized by the dark and gloomy atmosphere in the movie.

Likewise, inferiority and competence are among the major issues in the 1930s affecting women. It could be said that sexist ideologies are predominantly struggling factors in nation building. Even at present times, speaking out publicly or exercising ones freedom of speech have its consequences. Eloquence or persuasive speaking in public and anti-feminism acts has been history-bound issues. Sexism in science, as history has it, seems to be a sacrificial lamb for women to attain a respectable status quo. Derivative works of women in the fields of politics, sports, entertainment, business, science and technology, and their humanitarian causes are all conclusively contexts of an outlet to their voices.

Cinderella Man deliberately shows the importance of family in the American culture, the role of a woman in the household and the society and the sacrifices that a father and a husband are willing to do for his family. It also showed a chauvinist era wherein which women had little or no voice at all.

CULTURE AND THE MOVIE
On the other hand, the film, most importantly, tackles boxing as genuine sports of courage, angst, guts, and bravery.  Incorporated with factual accounts, this critically-acclaimed motion picture was made more valuable with Braddocks fairy-tale grip toward his far-flung, sweet success. It all rooted out in one sentimental scene where the aging Jim went to the Boxing Federation who fired him, begging or even more so, selling himself just to buy milk for his kids and to pay their neck-deep bills.
The role of boxing in this film is to see that although America is in bad situation not all its aspects are depress it has also given a way for boxing to take its peak and people to respect the profession of boxing, it is not about brawling or seeing men hit each other but to see the use of men in this sport discipline, respect and control for their actions.

Furthermore, the reason why most of sport-themed films are of commercial success is that the topics are normally intense, enigmatic, poignant, dramatic, and mind-boggling. Some critics battled that this is just another boxing movie, no match as compare to the Oscar-Winning Million Dollar Baby. But, as far as the critical audience is involve, historical fictions like Cinderella Man will make a great deal in terms of social significance. This is also similar to a superhero film wherein the people need a robust figure to make them feel inspired, to uplift their spirits, and to free them from tyranny.
The Cinderella man starts his life as a light heavy weight boxer. Boxing was an extremely popular sport, whether it was to forget their misery or for the entertainment value, As Pollard (2005) describes the sport, It was huge--as popular as baseball, and maybe more so. Heavyweight champions were superstars, with a Michael Jordan-like fame. Fans by the tens of thousands thronged to see the big matches, with millions more avidly following via radio and the colorful stories of newspaper sportswriters. The use of boxing in the movie effectively takes the viewer back to the 1920s. The filming of the boxing sequences brings to life the tone of the film. The palette used throughout the movie ranges from bleak, dark city streets to brash, golden boxing rings lit with the pop of flash bulbs. As stated by Julia S., Maple Glen, PA

It may be said that in each era, time and place a hero is born, he sets standards which are the highest, ideals which are the purest, so that all those who are suffering for want of direction may follow. Director Ron Howard has but utilized the existing, incredible living tale of Braddock, of a life lived to the fullest. A life where there was ample opportunity to complain and falter. Instead Braddock used such a life to his advantage and glorified it for all times to come.

CLIMATE AND TIME OF THE MOVIE
    Using the theme of boxing as synonymous to what is happening in that period of time, it gives us a clear view how this two subjects are connected, while the culture of America experiences the effects of great depression its significant other sports-boxing is on its peak, it is a way for the Americans to find a way to divert their attention to rather than immersed themselves to the loneliness the great depression brings. The main concern of this film is how it could picture all Americans in a one man and how he will able to contribute for the uplifting of souls of his countrymen. It could be shown the struggle of Americans when poverty hits rock bottom, in the film Braddocks family struggle between surviving for the day and facing alive tomorrow, what makes it more difficult is the climate America has, the winter time its hard for a poor family to survive without electricity and enough food. It showed us how strong Americans are and how it was able to survived any difficulties we faced.
Sports is a very in demand topic in American Cinema now a days. The probable hype behind this is the kind of thrill that a sport-themed film could give as compared to other genres. The fact that it is family oriented and is of literary merit, sporting events are often factual adaptation rather than make believe. Thus, it attracts a lot of movie-goers because they can put their own feet to the shoes of the characters. The target market was then diversified.

The realism in the movie is best described by Pollard (2005) Watching a recreation of painful historical episodes isnt always fun. After all, the Depression was sodepressing. But at the same time, historical films provide a time-capsule thrill of watching a long-past era spring to life. But also it is a good way how this events turn out to be good in a way, without this kind of event that challenges us we cannot say that America could attain its status now, become more aware of events that might occurred form our historical background, this film gives way for young Americans to learn how America became America, that it did not happen overnight but it was learned from what time brought us. Sports and history has its ways to tell stories and to learn something from it, events can be seen in every angles and shapes its own story.

    The film was able to capture the culture of America the setting, style and the climate it was able to frame the moment in the times of great depression and how it affects all the livelihood of people and also the society and American families, one way of looking at it is in the angle of sports and its contribution in the time of great depression, it was able to give a clear picture of what it was like before and able to make us see how hard life back then. It was the time of darkness and despair for all, no stable jobs, unemployment and sickness are abundant.

Boxing in a way was not affected by the depression since people are into it and that for some it is a source of income, at the time of great depression boxing became a popular sport and how it also help ease the pains of the people in that time, some see it as an answer to their prayers to have money for their family. We could see that in that time husband make sure that he provides everything and the wife stays at home, this is also one culture of America that has change in the present but still being fight by the women, in male dominated world women have a hard time proving itself many rights and wants are being push-thru, it could be seen that men are more likely to work than women before. And because of this film we were able to see the difference of our time now and before, it teaches us to be thankful of the privileges we have now and enjoy.

    The film also shows the situation of America and how it was able to overcome its problems. It shows the culture of America as strong, willed and is still fighting, its belief that it can overcome the problems that makes America today, the film also inspire us to believe in our self, as said earlier each film produced has something to give us to learn and to us for the better of our situation. It teaches us to be more aware and be more attentive on what we do and how we do it.