One of the best ever!

Rating: 10/10 (14 June 2008)

I used to own a gas station in a small town in West Texas right where the Hill Country ends and the desert starts. On a bright Summer day a rider on an old BMW rolled up to my pumps. Being a motorcycle rider myself I walked out to greet him.
As I approached, and greeted him, he held up a gloved hand. He slowly stretched it out and flexed his fingers and then did this with his other hand and then slowly, with a little bit of difficulty pulled off his helmet. His head had a shock of snow white hair. He had a white beard and eyes that were a stunning shade of sky blue. His smile belied not only and easy friendship but an experienced wit. Looped around his head was a clear thin plastic hose that ran down into a small tank bag to an oxygen tank.
He told me he was 82 years old and had been riding motorcycles for 60 years. His old BMW had 200,000 miles on it and he had ridden it in 20 countries on 5 continents. He said he had been diagnosed with cancer and had outlived his doctor's prediction of his demise by two months so far. He had been on the motorcycle since the day of his doctor's prognosis and would continue until he died, which he admitted would not be long. There was not a single inkling of sadness in his eyes. Just merriment and passion. This old man was doing what he loved and was going to go out on his terms after living an amazing and enviable life.
I imagined, time and time again, what having such passion for something could be like. I love my bikes. I am passionate about my occasional days at the track, but it does not match what I saw in that old rider that day.
Then I saw Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Munro and it became so clear. I wonder if that old man ever watched "The World's Fastest Indian." If he had, it would have spoken directly to his soul as it did to mine.
This movie had such heart. A story about the triumph of the human spirit. Only "Rocky" comes to mind as a movie with such a soul. I recommend this picture to everyone I talk movies with.