The Sea Inside - 6

Although this film is about euthanasia (or as my middle school friend liked to joke, "Why are the youth in Asia such a big deal, don't we have enough problems with the youth in our own country?"), I found it rather life affirming. This may not be the case for all viewers, so be advised that it may have the effect of making you hate life, but I doubt it. It is based on the true story of Ramon Sampedro, a paraplegic, and his 30-year political and legal battle to end his own life (The film is in Spanish with subtitles). It asks a lot of hard questions about life and the value that we and others place on it. It also placed some emphasis on the role of hope in giving our lives meaning. Ramon's hope seem to lay beyond this physical world and that lead to his argument for his own death. It also tied in the themes of family, friends, and love. I think the film asks the viewer: what is your motivation for getting up in the morning? Does what you do have meaning? How aware are you of the meaning or meaninglessness of your life? These are the questions that can lead people into truly knowing themselves.