Great film

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2006)

I really enjoyed this film. It kept my interest and I appreciated that although many bad things happen to the main character, he never lashes out or gives up. The lack of violence, sex scenes, and drug/alcohol use is refreshing. He cashes a check in a liquor store and when the clerk asks him if he wants anything else, he says no. Not what you would expect in a film. Usually the character would get drunk, etc. He is also discriminated against, but doesn't complain; he just smiles. The fact that he worked so hard and also took care of his son and studied diligently were very moving to me. This movie inspired me to not give up on improving my own life. However, success and happiness are soley equated with money in this film, and in real life, yes of course, money is important, but it alone doesn't make you happy. The spiritual side of this character could have been explored more. He obviously had a "the glass is half full" attitude. And there is a scene of him and his son at a church service in a homeless shelter, but otherwise this aspect of his life is not explored. This is a simply lovely movie that I highly recommend.