Andrew+Bellissimo

**“Million Dollar Baby” directed by Clint Eastwood** **Andrew Bellissimo** **207633118** **Alyson van Beinum** //“If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magi////c of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.”// **//Synopsis: “Million Dollar Baby”//** 

Frankie Dunn has trained and managed some of the best boxers during a lifetime spent in the ring. His most important lesson, always protect yourself, is one that rules his own life. Going through a painful separation from his daughter, Frankie has not allowed himself to become close to anyone for an extended period of time. He has one friend, Scrap, who looks after Frankie’s gym and knows that his grumpy image is just a mechanism to protect himself from care of those he encounters on a daily basis. Who Frankie really is, is a man who attends church every day for the past twenty-three years, seeking the forgiveness for something the audience never really discovers.

Then Maggie Fitzgerald walks into the gym and reenergizes Frankie’s lifelessness. Maggie comes from a poverty stricken family that has accepted their fate and shows no motivation to better themselves. Maggie, on the other hand, knows what she wants and she is determined to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. And she wants someone to believein her.

At first, Frankie wants no part of this responsibility. He continually tries to push Maggie away with harsh truths that she is too old and that he does not train girls. Disinclined or to give up on her goal of becoming the world champion, Maggie wears herself out at the gym every day, and only receives encouragement by Scrap. Finally won over by Maggie's sheer determination, Frankie tentatively agrees to take her on.

In what shapes up to be an incredible partnership, the two realize that they share a bond that helps heal the scars of their pasts. In each other, they find a sense of family that both have previously lost. In Maggie, Frankie sees a daughter figure that brings him back to life. On the other hand, Maggie looks up to Frankie as a father, often alluding to the similarities he has to her deceased father. The journey that they take with each other sees them rise to the top of the world to the very edge of life. Along the way, right to the very end, they face many battles that demand both heart and courage.

**//A. In what grade level/ course would you teach this text? Are there other courses for which it might also be appropriate?//** 

“Million Dollar Baby” deals with extremely complex issues that require a high level of maturity, and thus I would only consider using this film in senior level English courses. The themes that the film deals with may be a little too harsh in context for the intermediate students to fully appreciate. They may not grasp the main ideas or the messages that the film tries to convey.

Oftentimes in senior level courses, students are very hard on themselves and sometimes lack the confidence or determination it takes to take the required steps on route to the next point in their lives. Since this film focuses on themes such as fortitude, it can be used as a resource that gives the students the required motivation to reach for their goals no matter how distant or farfetched they may seem. Whether they are planning on attending post-secondary institutions or entering the workforce, they sometimes need to be reminded that everyone is capable of achieving even the most unrealistic goals. In the film, Maggie has the raw talent to become the best boxer but lacks the guidance and belief of a mentor until she meets Frankie. As teachers, we need to show our students that we believe in them, and this film can be the resource that sends them this message. No matter what has previously happened in their lives, and we know there is a lot of baggage, they have to know that they can move beyond it and succeed despite the barriers that try to interfere.

**//(B) What are the main ideas/issues/teaching points which you would emphasize when teaching the film?//** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">In regards to teaching points, “Million Dollar Baby” offers a wide variety of angles that teachers can take. The characters are complex, while the themes deal with controversial issues.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__**Social Knowledge**__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Loneliness and longing for familial relationship** is a major social theme within “Million Dollar Baby”. Frankie, Maggie, and Scrap all come across as lonely characters who are deprived of any family influence. The three main characters attempt to create family from those within the boxing gym. On numerous occasions, Frankie enrols himself in a fatherly role in Maggie’s life whereas Scrap attempts to mentor Danger, who too is without family. Maggie’s family is absent for the majority of the movie, only appearing when they complain about her profession and about the money she lends them, or trying to manipulate her for her money when she lays on her deathbed. She longs for someone to believe in her, and to guide her in the right direction. She finds that in Frankie who too is suffering from the abandonment of his daughter.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Gender roles** is another social theme within the film. The moment Maggie enters Frankie’s gym, there is an overwhelming sense that she does not belong. Frankie’s repeated reminders that he does not train girls and Maggie’s family groaning that the neighbours mock her raise the question of the expectations society places on gender. Eventually, Maggie makes good of rising above the narrow female stereotype line. However, she pays the ultimate price for doing so when she dies as a consequence.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Disability** is perhaps the main social theme prevalent in “Million Dollar Baby.” It was controversial, not just for conflicting against religious doctrine, but also because it perhaps suggests an adverse view of disability. It raises serious questions in regards to the value of life when disabled, and it would be a humane, even heroic, thing to euthanize a disabled person.

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Topic Knowledge** __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Gender Studies** could be a topic of focus when studying this film. The students can discuss their opinions on the relationship that Maggie and Frankie have and the roles that each character has within that relationship. They can also look at the different expectations outlined for each character in the film. Maggie rises to the top of the boxing world as a female whereas Danger sinks to the very bottom eventually leading to the abuse he suffers from the other members.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**The Heroes Journey** would be the main topic of discussion when studying this film. The students can look at how Maggie’s character evolves throughout the story and the challenges she faces along the way.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The students can take a **philosophical** view at the film. What are the different views on euthanasia from different famous philosophers?

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Cultural Knowledge** __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Poverty** is a major element of Maggie’s life that drives her to achieve greatness in the boxing ring. She is motivated by what she does not want to become and exceeds several expectations to do so. Meanwhile, her family has become accustomed to poverty and thus cannot escape it. Viewers get a sense that they do not want to transcend it and thus they are portrayed in a very lousy image. It is because of this that **cultural stereotypes** are brought to the movies surface. Maggie’s mother is jobless and overweight and bemoans about the house Maggie buys the family, claiming it will only put an end to her welfare cheques.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Racism** is another cultural aspect of the film that is somewhat ignored by most critiques who have reviewed the film. The main black character, Scrap, maintains Frankie’s gym while also using it as his home. Frankie also treats Scrap as his inferior, always complaining about the job he does and offering him advice about saving his money. Though Frankie offers, Scrap refuses the chance to go to Las Vegas as he suggests that it is no place for a man like him. However, the film makes it obvious the Scrap is the most wise and noble character present. He sees the mistakes Frankie makes along the way, and gives opportunity to the underdogs who come to the gym. He is the character who offers the most thoughtful advise to each of the characters in the film, usually guiding them in the right direction.

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Textual Knowledge** __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The story is told through Scrap’s p**erspective/narrative** in his letter writing to Frankie’s daughter. Despite Frankie’s flaws, Scrap portrays Frankie in a positive way as he pleads for her to forgive him for the unknown mistake he has made.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The film is filled several powerful **themes** that can be explored by the students.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">As already mentioned, the **characters** are complex, flawed, and complicated. The students can explore what gives each character these characteristics and in what ways they evolve over the duration of the film.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">During the movie, many **foreshadows** are given to hint the eventual outcome of the film. When asked how she wants to travel to Vegas, Maggie says she wants to fly there and drive back. As it turns out, she does drive back in the ambulance after suffering a serious injury in her fight.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**//(C) What are the issues/challenges you might encounter teaching the film?//** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">This would be a very difficult text to teach in a Catholic school because of the issue of Euthanasia. The Catholic Church strictly prohibits euthanasia and thus Frankie’s decision to end Maggie’s life at the conclusion of the novel is contradictory to the message that Catholic schools try to portray.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Some students may be experiencing some of the issues that are prevalent for some characters in the film. Thus, the film may spark some negative reactions from some students in the class. For this reason, viewing any film that thrives on realistic themes can be difficult to teach. However, I would not hesitate in doing so because they messages behind these types of films can be very inspiring and helpful.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**//(D) Describe a possible assignment/activity you can use when teaching the film.//** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**The Heroes Journey** __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The assignment I would choose to do for this film addresses the journey of a hero. It explores how the three main characters in the film have the archetypes of a hero. After doing so, they will be required to reflect on their own journeys.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Step One:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Put the students in groups and assign each group a selected chapter from Joseph Campbell’s “A Hero With a Thousand Faces”. Each group will present their findings to the class via chart paper. Each student will be responsible for making notes on each mini presentation.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Step Two:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Have the students write an one/two page journal on how Maggie, Frankie, or Scrap represents a hero based on Campbell’s ideas.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Step Three:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: normal;">The students will then be asked to reflect on their own life journeys and where they would like to be after high school. They will submit a mind map and a three to five page write-up. They will be responsible for expressing the journey they have taken up until the present day followed by where they want to end up after high school into adulthood. They will explain how they want to get there and what it takes to achieve their goals. They will keep in mind the people they will need to achieve their goals and the advice that may come their way.