The Power Of One: The Best Underrated Movie

The Power Of One: The Best Underrated Movie
By: Corinne Eckel

Put yourself in South Africa during the Apartheid, 1930 to 1948. Picture an English boy named PK, who is brought up by his mother, his Zulu nanny, a German musician named Doc and an African prisoner, Geel Piet (Morgan Freeman).

Everyone he loves keeps leaving him. He is surrounded by conflict between the Afrikaners (Dutch, French and German descendants who don’t get along with each other) and the original African people (who are ostracized by everyone else). Every day he is faced with segregation, violence and unfair laws against those he loves and respects. And to top it off, he is the central figure in a Zulu myth that he is the Rain Maker, the man to cool things down when there is conflict.

The first half of the movie is the most powerful and lays the foundation to PK’s heart and soul. We meet him as a 7 year old (played by Guy Witcher) who is off at boarding school run by German Afrikaan’s at the start of World War II and bullied because of his English heritage. Granted the 7 year old PK is cute as a button, we don’t miss how his struggles are affecting him. When he gets that fire in his eyes to defend his chicken, you know he means business. The 12 year old PK (played by Simon Fenton) has at this point gained the respect of the tribes in the jail where his visits Doc and Geel Piet and knows the system is wrong and ways to get around it. I have to admit to you, that it’s during this period I tear up each and every time, and I’ve watched this movie a lot! The music captures a powerful effect and fully grasps the situation. Hans Zimmer has effectively captured the spirit and song of the African people. I even own the soundtrack it’s that good! Stephen Dorff plays the teenage PK. He’s ready to return to the Motherland for college but again is confronted with the Rain Maker myth. He has to decide where he is needed the most.

I think this is my favorite all time movie due to the combination of music and story. The first time I saw it, I had some awesome speakers in my living room and when the tribes all sang in the jail, it was so powerful it still resonates with me today. It’s hard to see people treating each other like lesser beings, that one doesn’t deserve the same basic rights as the other. It’s also a reminder that although the problem may seem huge, one person can make a difference and have that difference ripple out.

About the Author:

Corinne Eckel is an enthusiastic movie fan. Her day job is Web Developer at Peerflix Inc. Movie Reviews by Corinne and others can be found at http://blog.peerflix.com For more information, visit http://www.peerflix.com

Article Tags: people, pk, played
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