~ Family has the ability to both empower and limit oneself ~

Family is a strong pillar embedded within everyone, with the ability to have a large impact on
oneself. In the film ‘Stand by Me’ directed by Rob Reiner, family is a prominent concept that haunts
the protagonists in the story. Gordie, Chris, Vern and Teddy all bond over their difficult family
situations, and the various positive and negative influences originating from their family background.
These events shape each of their personalities, consequently, determining the plot of the film. In the
same way, we all feel the authority of our own families, having the power to both entitle us and
restrain us. In ‘Stand By Me’ four young boys face the harsh reality of the real world while
succumbing to family morals and expectations. Ultimately however, like the four protagonists in
‘Stand By Me’ find out, family isn’t just those who are connected by blood, but also include those
who support and look out for each other.

Throughout ‘Stand By Me’ the audience is shown how all four boys surrender to family problems that
direct how they behave and what they do. Out of all the boys, Chris and Gordie are the two
characters that connect the most, bonding over how both of their families cause each of them to feel
limited. Chris often feels as though he is labelled as a ‘low-life Chamber’s kid’ due to his family’s
reputation. Similarly, Deka from the award-winning book ‘The Gilded Ones’ is assumed to be a lower
classed being, regardless of her strong morals and kind attitude. Her family and friends simply
disown her after the revelation of the colour of her blood. In parallel, Chris is stereotyped to be a
thief due to his family’s reputation and feels restricted by the legacy passed to him through his
family. Moreover, Gordie feels as though his father “doesn’t love [him]” because he often
disapproves of Gordie’s love for writing. Likewise, Jess, from ‘Bend it like Beckham’ is bound by her
mother and father’s expectations that rule her against playing soccer and doing what she loves. Jess
is forced to pursue an academic path like her sister, and constantly lives under the shadow of her
successful elder. Correspondingly, Gordie dwells under the shadow of his brother, and has the
expectation to be athletic and popular like his brother once was. The experiences that are shared
between Chris and Deka, Gordie and Jess, reveal how family can pass down a looming expectation
that limits the protagonists in each of these films.

However, the blossoming friendships that grow through these traumatic experiences are also
perfectly depicted in Rob Reiner’s film. All four boys have a somewhat disturbing family situation,
which enables them to bond with their mates. More specifically, Gordie and Chris encouraging each
other shows how family limitations are conquered by encouragement from friends. Likewise, I feel as
though my friends often reach out to me when I am feeling down. Whether it may be after a bad test
score, or an argument at home, I always have friends at school that are there to listen to my
problems and encourage me to pursue what I really love doing. Chris is a somewhat of a metaphor
for the numerous friends in my life that empower me. Chris tells Gordie that “God gave [him]
something” and urges him to pursue his love for writing instead of succumbing to his father’s
limitations. Furthermore, in ‘Bend it like Beckham’ Juliette urges Jess to join the team and helps her
with all the cheeky things they do to escape Jess’s parents. In an especially emotional scene in ‘Bend
it like Beckham,’ Jess questions whether going behind her parent’s back is really worth it, threatening
to put all that she had worked for on the line, but then Jess nurtures her and persuades her to keep
following her dream of being a soccer player. In the same way, when Chris questions whether he will
‘ever get out of this town’ Gordie encourages Chris to ‘join the college courses with [him].’ Although
Chris denies it at the time, at the end of the film, Gordie explains that Chris had become a successful
lawyer, which shows that the empowerment Gordie gave to Chris has enabled him to push past his
family limitations and prove himself to those who underestimated him.
 ~ Family has the ability to both empower and limit oneself ~
Furthermore, in ‘Stand By Me’ Chris and Gordie are constantly discouraged and belittled by their
biological family, with each young boy being criticised for their likes and factors that are simply out of
their control. However, as the film progresses, each boy begins to flourish in the presence of their
friends, striving to prove their parents wrong. Zack Mooneyham, the lead guitarist in the popular film
‘School of Rock’ is forced to go through a similar set of experiences. Zack is urged by his parents to
only pursue classical guitar, but with the arrival of a new teacher, Zack is encouraged to pursue what
he really loves, rock. Throughout the film, Zack’s dad constantly puts him down and forces him to
forget rock, but at the very end, Zack’s dad sees how happy he is doing what he loves and learns
never to underestimate his son. In the same way, Chris is underestimated, not only by his family, but
by the entire town. His family’s reputation and unkind morals force Chris to live under a cloud of
judgement. However, with the help of Gordie, Chris is able to break free of the stereotypes that
follow him and reach his full potential. Kevin from ‘Home Alone’ finds himself in a similar position to
Gordie from ‘Stand By Me.’ Kevin is constantly underestimated, and treated as an unimportant
member of the family. However, with the ‘disappearance’ of his family, Kevin finds himself
endeavouring to prove his responsibility and value in his family. Ultimately the banter from his family,
drives him to not only take of the house while his parents are gone, but also catch two criminals.
Similarly, Gordie finds himself severely underrated by his father, who constantly puts down his
extraordinary abilities as a writer. But through the story plot of Reiner’s film, Gordie is able to flourish
to his full potential and do what he loves in his future as an adult. Through the pressure and
discouragement that his father gives him, Gordie gains a persistent mentality that influences him to
strive to the best of his abilities.

In essence, ‘Stand By Me’ presents the concept of Family having the ability to empower and limit the
protagonists in the film. Primarily Chris and Gordie, have many conneting factors to myself and other
inspirational characters from other films. Evidence throughout the film, supporting the limitations
that come from family. However the importance of close friends, constantly supporting and
encouraging each other through rough times, prove how family isn’t just those who are connected by
blood, but also those who believe and trust in one another. Yet the imposing message that a harsh
family background serves for a strong mindset and consequently a more flourishing future, shows
that limitations from family can and are conquered by strong friendships and a striving mentality that
is birthed from the pressures of family.