Zen & the art of Spielberg (DVD)

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2006)

Thanks for coach Phil Jackson to recommend this enlightening book from mr Pirsig "Zen & the art of motorcycle maintenance", whom ideas are brilliantly illustrated in that movie.
First, it's about being stuck in life due to own value rigidity: Victor Navorsky can be seen in this way. As long as he wishes to enter America as an acceptable traveller, showing honesty to administration & compassion for his fellows, he is stuck in the airport terminal. The word "terminal" as "end of everything" is funny in that interpretation.
It is also interesting that the character played by Tucci is also very rigid, and his fundamental keys are clearly explained: his passion is "rules" and Navorsky would be "stuck" in the terminal as long as he.
The escape from this stuckness can be more flexibility, in fact doing "what is good". As Victor recognizes that the ultimate goal of his trip is the memory of his father, then his value evolves, and he can be free from his stuckness: He goes to New-York by breaking the law & leaving his friends in difficult situations.
Second, Zen is an instant-to-instant practice: the scope is what you see in each moment & you have to deal with that to be happy. In this attitude, Victor excels: he uses every bit, every space of the terminal, and by doing this, he gains a lot of friends.
In the opposite, pain is only the experience of not letting go what is lost. His last gaze to Amelia is a perfect reaction: he knows the relationship is sadly dead & accepts it: He gave to Amelia all his best but that wasn't enough for her. He understands that it is useless to add anything else, so he just stares at her.
For all those reasons, movies are very helpful to offer advices, wisdom & reflexion to people who must face difficulties but without any family or friends presence. And Spielberg is one of the best filmmaker: his camera is alive (like the spy one at the terminal.. bzzz.. bzzzz) and he always assemble a great team: Tom Hanks (great in dubbing eastern accent & being open-minded), great theme from John Williams, all the world-wide casting & and extraordinary ordinary set of an airport terminal.
A movie similar in spirit to "Groundhog Day" and as enjoyable A recommendation.