I have struggled to write in recent weeks since politics have dominated my thoughts. And while I have decided not to completely avoid political topics, this is not a political blog. So I'll discuss something else that's been on my mind lately: Ferngully.
I recently rediscovered this movie when I decided to introduce it to some friends about to embark on a rainforest vacation. I had seen it in the theater when it came out in the early 90's and it had a strong influence on me. Fueling my future in primatology, it inspired my desire to see the rainforest. The association of magic with the rainforest remained in my mind. When I took a field course in Costa Rica, I felt it - the forest bursting with life, the beauty of the trees, the fairytale vision of giant blue morpho butterflies - an echantment born out of the memory of this movie. Always a nature lover, I remember feeling a deep connection with the film. It nourished my environmentalism and I have never forgotten its key moments. Like when Zack carves Crysta's name into a tree. Crysta gets upset and holds his hand to the tree, saying, "Can't you feel its pain?"
But other parts I didn't remember. Tim Curry's performance as the evil Hexis - basically an evil force which feeds on pollutants and all things bad - is reminiscent of his other performances for more adult audiences. His song "Toxic Love" has strong sexual overtones, even including a seeming climax. Not that it's inappropriate, because children wouldn't notice - at least hopefully not!
The movie also contains possibly the most beautiful depiction of death in a children's film. After demonstrating the power of creation, the old fairy Magi starts to fade. Crysta calls, "Magi, don't leave me!" And Magi responds, "I love you! I will always be with you." As she fades, she turns into sparks which become part of every other being present. Not just a beautiful image, this visualization of mortality recalls a Golden Compass philosophy where death means the continuing of energy from one thing to another - not an easy concept to illustrate to children.
When I saw the movie Avatar in the theater, my first thought was that I had seen it before - Ferngully! The plot is nearly identical except aliens replaced fairies and the military replaced loggers. The message is the same: all living things are connected, nature is beautiful, and greed is destructive. When people were raving about it, I had to agree - Ferngully is great!
Home with two sick children today, I read them Ben's old copy of The Great Kapok Tree. With beautifully intricate illustrations, this classic tells the story of the creatures who depend upon a huge rainforest tree about to be cut down. Each creature tells the would-be logger some different way the tree contributes to the world, convincing him to abandon his destructive task. I read it complete with different voices. After I finished, Nate said sincerely, "I would never cut that tree down."
Things have seemed bleak to me these last few months. Phone calls and marches can do only so much to sway ignorant or selfish minds. But I am comforted knowing they are not the ones who hold the greatest influence over the future. Parents are. And if we cultivate a garden of compassionate thinkers, nourished by knowledge and empathy, the future will be covered in blossoms.