FILM: The Blind Side

By staff - Nov 24, 2009 - 2 -

This Thanksgiving, one film has the power to make anyone feel thankful, despite the state of the economy and the fact that our nation’s military is in harm’s way. “The Blind Side,” starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, tells the moving story of Michael Oher, a homeless teen who overcomes seemingly impossible circumstances to become an NFL first-round draft pick.

To most, Michael was labeled a lost cause. Born to a crack-addict mother and an absent father, he became a ward of the state at a young age, bouncing from foster home to foster home and school to school, before ending up on the streets and alone–until he meets the Tuohys.

While driving home with her family one freezing winter night, Leigh Anne Tuohy–whose children attend school with Michael–finds him on the street wearing nothing but shorts and a T-shirt. Sympathetic, she reaches out to Michael and insists he spend the night at their house. One night becomes two nights, and three, until he soon becomes a part of the family.

It’s all but impossible to hold back the tears as you watch the Tuohys, a kind-hearted and wealthy family, take in Michael as one of their own and continually extend their generosity to him, allowing you to discover just how little he has in the world.

Beyond bringing him in as part of the family and meeting his most basic needs, they take a strong interest in Michael’s life. With a genuine concern for his future, they begin motivating him to get his grades up and encouraging him to try out for the high school’s football team. After watching Michael’s future take off, you realize just how blessed he is to have people in his life who believe in him and push him to accomplish his dreams. Without the Tuohys, not only would Michael have been without a place to call home and people to call family, but his very future would have turned out quite differently.

As you witness everything the Tuohys did for Michael, the kindness and compassion shown by their family is moving. Though there is not strong evidence in the movie to indicate how deeply rooted the family’s Christian beliefs are, their intent is most likely based on biblical principles.

Despite the ridicule they face from Leigh Anne’s upper-class friends who see Michael as nothing more than a charity case and the children’s classmates who tease them for living with a homeless teenager, the Tuohys persevere in doing what they believe is right. And while their actions can only be described as selfless, Leigh Anne comes to the realization that Michael is changing their lives much more than they are changing his. Within a household that has everything, he made them realize the value of family and taught them to appreciate what they have.

While the movie’s plot is based on a true story, adapted from Michael Lewis’s The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, it is also a primer on the vulnerability of homeless children and the serious need for foster care families in our country. In September, the real Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy were named as National Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

So take a break from the vampire craze of “New Moon” and the Michael Jackson hysteria and spend this holiday season watching a heart-warming family movie with a valuable message–there are those in society who are in need, and there are those among us who can help them. Let us learn from the Tuohys what it means to be thankful and find ways to extend our blessings to those in need, giving them the opportunity for a brighter future. Perhaps, like the Tuohys, we will find ourselves blessed in return.

The movie is rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references, and one scene with moderate profanity.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Citizenship, Hunger/Homelessness,

{comment_total} comments

1 On Nov 28th, 2009, at 8:09pm, Adam wrote:

This movie was the best I’ve seen in a long time.
Know you’d love it; the brothers.
Mom

2 On Nov 30th, 2009, at 5:15pm, anthony campbell wrote:

I plan to see this well talked about movie. Based on the comments I have heard, I am anxious to see it and can hardly wait. The clips I’ve seen on TV is touching; seeing this movie will be refreshing and a break from the sex, violence and deception most of us is familar with in the film industry.

Anthony

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