Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Spellbound is my recent documentary picture pick. It is a few years old already, but I just saw it a few days ago. I highly encourage a viewing of it as it creates a fabulous venue for asking the questions of oneself that matter. I found myself on the edge of my seat, rooting for one and then another of the eight contestants, exchanging my loyalties quite easily, who all have the chance of winning the 1999 National Spelling Bee.
Some of the backgrounds of these eight featured kids really blew my mind. The three kids that I found compelling and intriguing were Ashley, Neil and Angela. They came from either immigrant families or in Ashley's case, from a single parent family in a not-so-great part of town. The dreams that these kids have are inspiring, though at times one wonders if it is the parents desire more than the kids themselves.
Neil's highly motivated dad, Rajesh, said some quotables that I want to share here. One quote refers to the fact that living in the USA presents opportunities that elsewhere would and could not, "There is no way you can fail in this country." More importantly his second and profound quote, "What is valuable in life that is easy to achieve?" No kidding!
Spellbound is by far better than any Hollywood formulaic action film with a definitive surprise ending (my bet was way off!). You'll find yourself geeking out and spelling right along with them.
Some of the backgrounds of these eight featured kids really blew my mind. The three kids that I found compelling and intriguing were Ashley, Neil and Angela. They came from either immigrant families or in Ashley's case, from a single parent family in a not-so-great part of town. The dreams that these kids have are inspiring, though at times one wonders if it is the parents desire more than the kids themselves.
Neil's highly motivated dad, Rajesh, said some quotables that I want to share here. One quote refers to the fact that living in the USA presents opportunities that elsewhere would and could not, "There is no way you can fail in this country." More importantly his second and profound quote, "What is valuable in life that is easy to achieve?" No kidding!
Spellbound is by far better than any Hollywood formulaic action film with a definitive surprise ending (my bet was way off!). You'll find yourself geeking out and spelling right along with them.
