Concerning the 1970's and Integration and this movie

Rating: 10/10 (2 October 2000)

Remember the Titans is one of the best movies of this year. As moving as it is inspiring, I'm not ashamed to admit to tearing up at one of the more dramatic points of the story. This movie is remarkable in the way it captured the atmosphere of 1971, when public schools were forced to integrate and the public protested in the streets. Tension between adults was taught to their children, who fought in the hallways at school, and as sad as is the idea of learned racism, it is a fact that our society has fought hard and well against. In this day and age we take integration for granted, and it is easy to forget the way things were just thirty years ago. Remember the Titans is about football, but not to the extent to which it is about people. It is about people learning to live together, overcoming their fears and mistrust to come together as a team and work together toward something great. During football camp, the head coach, played by Denzel Washington, the players are forced not only to play together, but also to room together and eat together. Through the course of the movie, the young men go from mistrusting and disliking each other to tolerating each other, and from that to even liking each other and loving each other. So many lines capture the spirit of this movie, lines that speak of looking at a man for his soul, not his color. I won't get into the nitty-gritty of moviemaking here; the directing, acting, writing, and general storyline are all pretty close to flawless. Remember the Titans is a thoroughly enjoyable tale, and one that speaks of a harmony that America still strives for today. I personally think that every person in America, especially those who are too young to remember those difficult days, ought to see this movie. It does a good job of teaching us a lesson without it coming across like propaganda. Remember the Titans will touch your soul.