The Power of One
The Power of One - Representation of the different groups
The Power of One is a cinematic masterpiece which was based on the inspiring novel by Bryce Courtenay. Set in a world torn apart from racism; where man subjugates his fellow country man and liberty remains evasive. The director, John G. Avildsen has utilized a range of filmic techniques to depict to malevolence of racial prejudice. The protagonist of this film, PK is an English boy who is raised in a society plagued with racism. In the beginning of this film, PK’s is narrating some events of his life; John. G starts the screenplay with PK saying, “I was born with the songs of Zulu rainmakers in my ears”. The first scene of the movie instantly lures the audience’s attention with PK’s adorable voice, blended with an indigenous African tune in the background. Furthermore; the introduction of PK’s dark skinned friend, who is sitting beside him and playing the ivory (white) and Ebony (black) keys on the piano is a strong dissimilarity witnessed by the audience. Despite no racial scenes are presented in the beginning, it definitely sets the rest of the movie in pace with presenting one of the core themes of this novel, ‘the power of one’.
Soon after his mother becomes disheartened after an emotional collapse, PK is sent to a hell like Dutch boarding school. This is where John. G begins to develop the setting of racism. PK’s voice is screen played to gain the sympathy from the audience, as he is portrayed as naïve and excluded by the other students. As soon as PK arrives at the boarding school, he is enclosed by people who are racist and violent. This is exposed when the Dutch priest promotes hate against the British who dominated them during the invasion; he says, “the English drove us into this wilderness but we returned stronger than before, by spilling their blood across the land because this land is ours given to us entirely by almighty God. It is our responsibility to rise up, push out the English
The Power of One is a cinematic masterpiece which was based on the inspiring novel by Bryce Courtenay. Set in a world torn apart from racism; where man subjugates his fellow country man and liberty remains evasive. The director, John G. Avildsen has utilized a range of filmic techniques to depict to malevolence of racial prejudice. The protagonist of this film, PK is an English boy who is raised in a society plagued with racism. In the beginning of this film, PK’s is narrating some events of his life; John. G starts the screenplay with PK saying, “I was born with the songs of Zulu rainmakers in my ears”. The first scene of the movie instantly lures the audience’s attention with PK’s adorable voice, blended with an indigenous African tune in the background. Furthermore; the introduction of PK’s dark skinned friend, who is sitting beside him and playing the ivory (white) and Ebony (black) keys on the piano is a strong dissimilarity witnessed by the audience. Despite no racial scenes are presented in the beginning, it definitely sets the rest of the movie in pace with presenting one of the core themes of this novel, ‘the power of one’.
Soon after his mother becomes disheartened after an emotional collapse, PK is sent to a hell like Dutch boarding school. This is where John. G begins to develop the setting of racism. PK’s voice is screen played to gain the sympathy from the audience, as he is portrayed as naïve and excluded by the other students. As soon as PK arrives at the boarding school, he is enclosed by people who are racist and violent. This is exposed when the Dutch priest promotes hate against the British who dominated them during the invasion; he says, “the English drove us into this wilderness but we returned stronger than before, by spilling their blood across the land because this land is ours given to us entirely by almighty God. It is our responsibility to rise up, push out the English