activities and just did not want to do anything related to school. Apart from the normal house chores there was restlessness with meaningless arguments, and uncalled for angry responses. Stir craziness was building up. Sensing the build-up Jill, as sharp as usual, turned to Ashwyn and spoke softly so that the kids could not hear, in a matter of fact kind of way.
“Darling, you better go and get a DVD for the kids to watch. Something that is full of action and funny.” Than, with her eye brows raised as added emphasis, on the sense of urgency, she continued, “And be real quick about it, too.”
Ashwyn, looked around at the increasingly tense atmosphere, scratched his head as he usually does and proclaimed as if it was his own solution. “OK! Excellent idea! R-r-r-right! Everyone! I am going to rent a mo-o-vie. Anyone interested? Suggestions anyone?”
The arguments stopped, there was a moment of dead silence and everyone stared at their dad, than at each other. Suddenly, it was titles of all types of movies from the gory, blood and guts recommendations from Luke just for the sake of it, to the more thoughtful, Robert, asserting his maturity and yet caring nature.
“I recommend, A Bugs Life! It has both kids humour and adult humour. Besides, we haven’t seen it in a long time. I loved it when I saw it at the age of 7.”
Both Matt and Rhonda screamed in unison “Yes! Dad, Yes! please Dad! A Bugs Life! Awesome and very fun!”
Never mind that Matt did not know about the movie. It was a kid’s movie and that’s all that mattered. They both rushed towards Ashwyn grabbing both his hands and pulling him along. Matt shouted, “Let’s go now!” Rhonda piled on the pressure. “Lets go right now, I am going crazy! Stir crazy.” She then proceeded to pull a face with tongue hanging out and shake her head like someone receiving an electric shock.
Ashwyn turned round, smiled at Jill, and said. “You’re a gem darling, you’ve saved the day yet again.” Jill winked in acknowledgement of the praise. Then waived her hand, indicating to Ashwyn to get-a-move-on and restore the peace.
While Ashwyn took Matt and Rhonda to the video store, Jill went about her normal routines while musing over why of all the movies, A Bugs Life, had won out. Reflecting on what she could remember of the movie a passing thought caught her attention. The journey of life and struggles to be free from oppressive circumstances and/or people often begins with one or two people who decide they have had enough and take deliberate courses of actions that eventually win over a majority of sceptics to their cause. In some cases, those individuals achieve their own freedom leaving the rest behind to remain forever in their misery. A Bugs Life, she reflected seemed to be about how an individual brought deliverance to an entire community because he had a vision.
“Mu-u-um, A Bugs Life, has some gory bits in it I think” Luke interrupted just for the sake of an idle chatter.
“What do you think about that movie, Luke? What did you learn from it?” she replied, seeking affirmation from a child’s perspective. Was she reading too much into the movie as an adult? She thought.
“I reckon, it’s about LIBERATION! from tyranny by a bunch of losers who accidently fell into a great idea but only succeeded because their enemies were dumber than they realised” bellowed Robert triumphantly from his room.
“Who asked you anyway, Bob? You’re always interrupting and getting away with it. Mum asked me” Luke protested, looking at Jill with an angry face.
“You’re right! I did ask you, Luke,” she intercepted to console him. “OK, what do you think?”
“I reckon it was about having the guts to stick to your dreams and doing whatever you can to bring it to success. It is also about fighting bullies who are trying to rip you off and beat you up. The trick is to understand that these bullies are fewer and that, if you can get most people to understand that by ganging up against the bully, you can defeat them and chase them away.” Luke replied with a sense of triumph, and confident grin, speaking as if he was the one bringing the victory.
“Excellent possible interpretation of the movie Luke!” Jill replied, going into a parent/teacher mode. “It will be very interesting to find out what the others think after watching the movie again.” Then making fun of Ashwyn and lowering her voice and talking like one of those atypical lifestyle gurus she said, “I am sure your Dad will be seeing it as a j-o-u-r-ney of some kind, I suppose.” Luke laughed with a knowing nod.
“What’s that guy ant’s name? the airhead main character?” enquired Luke.
“I can’t remember off-the-top of my head,” Jill replied scratching her head thoughtfully. “Hmm. Robert!”
“Yes! Mum,” Robert replied.
“What is the name of the main character in A Bugs Life?”
“Flik! How can I forget him. I reckon, he’s the coolest ant ever! He gives us all a fighting chance in life. Talk about luck just when you need it!” Robert was now getting fired-up about this childhood movie that he had watched numerous times. He came out of the room in a very intellectual mood applying analysis to the movie.
He continued, “When I think about the movie, even though it’s so long ago that I last watched it, the thing that struck me most and has stayed with me is that Flik was not afraid to apply whatever creative skills he had to improve not only his life but also of his colony of ants. It was his gutsy determination even against great odds that seems to be the main key to the colony’s final victory over the grasshoppers. So, it clearly seems to say that if we give up too soon just because of obstacles we will remain slaves to those obstacles.”
He turned round and was about to go back to his room when he stopped at the door and turned around after suddenly discovering a passing event in the movie. He observed, “Flik and his circus friends were very forgiving to their enemies who recognised the error of their ways. Remember, Molt, the brother of the evil grasshopper emperor, Hopper? He was freely allowed to join the circus to fulfil his dream. There was no lingering bitterness after all the years he was involved in inflicting pain on the ant colony. That’s powerful stuff, if we are able to do it to help those criminals who need a second chance. At the same time it prevents past bad experiences from controlling our future.”
“Fa-a-rout! Bob! That’s deep stuff. You should get an ‘A’ in Literature in the High School Certificate,” Jill responded. A deep feeling of pride washed over her at son’s intellectual abilities. “Catch all that?” Jill added, turning towards Luke with a cheeky smile.
“Seems like there is going to be some deep discussions after the movie now that the discussion cat is out of the bag” Luke retorted going back to his computer game, envious at his brother’s ability to read more into the movie than himself. He decided privately to watch the movie and try to see what unique lessons he can get to prove that he was as good as his older brother.
Soon Ashwyn returned with the DVD and everyone wanted the obligatory popcorn and a drink. Sorry, only cordial allowed though. Jill had already anticipated this and had some ready. Needless to say, Luke and Bob had been helping themselves to some of them. Settling down in the Rumpus room with the massive flat screen HDTV there was a sense of excitement especially from Matt who had never seen the movie before. But Ashwyn had to spoil it a little.
“When you watch this movie can you try to see if there’re any lessons or things we can learn from it. It doesn’t need to be very deep.”
“Wooo, Dad!” replied Luke, “while you guys were away, Mum asked us the same thing. This is spookie or have you guys got telepathy or something?”
“Tel-paty! Tel-paty! What is that big word Mum? Its a scary word, Mum? Oooo!” Matt interrupted.
“Later, Matt. Lets watch the movie first, than I will explain it to you.” Jill replied.
“Press the play button, Dad!” Rhonda ordered, anxious with excitement to get