Yesterday we saw the award winning, highly acclaimed Sundance film, Captain Fantastic.
Dave and I have talked about it several times today. It's a great movie to see and discuss because it raises lots of questions about raising children in today's world.
Viggo Mortensen is raising his six children off the grid. Some would say they're in a self sufficient, utopian paradise. I, of course, would not say that. The kids don't know much about iPhones but, being home schooled from day-one by their parents, they do know lots of things including several languages and extreme rock climbing.
The film opens with the oldest son killing a deer in the forest with a knife and his bare hands. The rest of the kids pop up, along with dad who cuts the deer's heart out and feeds it to his son, while giving him the "today you are a man" speech.
Well, OK then.
Then a tragedy ensures and they are forced into civilization. There are some sweet, funny, terrifying and very questionable moments like, for instance Viggo Mortensen, nude in the trailer park.
To me, the film is about compromise as a parent while trying to protect our children from today's world. And allowing children to make their own choices.
I loved Viggo's speech to his son at the end. The son is getting on a plane headed for Bolivia to try to figure out who he is. His dad tells him, first off, how to make love to a woman (I like what he said) and a few more "do's." He ends with saying "...and don't die."
I really like that. But I wish he'd had that in mind when he was throwing his kids off cliffs in the rain teaching them to hunt big game with knives - and to be cat burglars.
***
