Last night I watched a film, Beyond Borders. It stars Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen. I can describe it in one word- provoking. It provoked my emotions mostly, but touched different parts of me and made them tender, but it also provoked my thoughts- made me think about those people. It also provoked my love for people living in third world countries a little bit more.The film ended and I burst into tears. I hadn’t cried the whole way through, but it was just so bloody well sad at the end.
It’s a slightly different storyline to what is usually seen in films, but still predictable. What I liked about it was that I didn’t just cry because of the romantic in me- because of the way Nick reminded me of my fiance, or the way the two characters were so helplessly in love, but I cried because I saw the people in those countries living. For me it’s not the fact that so many have died in places like Ethiopia, Cambodia and Chechnya, it’s the state that those people LIVE in. The lives they lead and the sickness and poverty, the heart of those people reaches out to my heart and makes me cry. In the film Nick is so so passionate about these people and their plight (a VERY appealing quality in a man might I add- he sheds TEARS for these people, that in itself is enough to make me cry), and maybe it’s just because I am in love with Africa myself, but it adds this most beautiful layer to the film.
The film takes place over a few years, skipping many of them obviously, and one of the things I liked about it was that you could see the progression in the character’s lives. Not just in the main characters either, but in other characters.
Oh, and if you’re going to watch the film don’t listen when I tell you that the husband- he’s a jerk. A tosser. A fool. He made me sad and want to cry. I hate him. You’ll find out why when you watch it.
Watch the trailer here and when you watch the film you’ll understand this little quote that means so much:
Nick Callahan: You’re not wearing perfume.
So the film is thought provoking, emotionally provoking, and not for the weak. But I would recommend it so much. I don’t know how to explain to you that my heart is burning now. It feels like it just so full that it’s heavier and I am constantly aware of its presence. Watch it, learn from it and let yourself love these people and their countries.
