Running on Empty (1988)

     Most of the movie portrays LOVE. This? This is FAMILY LOVE!

     I love my family. Therefore, there is no doubt that I love how the movie portrays how the family support one another, solving the problem with one another, and even discuss romantic relationship between one another. A family without secret! A family without secret that shares everything with another is the kind of family that we all wish to grow up in this fast pace world today. As we all one day comes with trouble, the first thing we need is the support from family love. It is undeniable that blood is thicker than water, so I believe family is the pillar of strength for us! 

   In this movie, it revolves the parents of Annie and Arthur Pope whom were responsible for the anti-war protest bombing of a napalm laboratory whereby a janitor happened to be nearby and was injured badly. Bringing the guilt and crime, they have to run away and stay away from the radar. With bringing their children, they have to stick together as family is a unit to them. Attachment to them is the important thing as that is what left of them, family. 

     Having parents to support one another when we have difficult. It can not only touches our heart or melt our heart as leaving their son to further his career as a musician alone. "We all love you, now, go out there and make a difference" touches me as Danny, the eldest son from now onward have to be independent. It reflected me of an parents having to let go their precious son/daughter outside from hometown to survive and be independent, it hurts me. Nobody wants to see their child suffer. As in the movies, supporting one another as now they have only each other left, it is heart broken to leave their child alone by himself. 

     Using Bowen family systems theory to explain this such emotional bonded family. It is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit (Kerr, 2000). The family of Danny is connected emotionally to one another. In most part of the scene, Danny support and love his mother through hugs and kisses. Danny aren't afraid of walking to his dad and give him a kiss when he came home late after visiting his girlfriend after such late night. The family is bonded with such strong emotional bond and willing to love one another as now they are what they have left. Danny also bought his girlfriend, Lorna to his family. Danny's family surprisingly also accepted the girlfriend and dance with together. With this such love, anything can be done together and overcome together! 

No family is perfect… we argue, we fight. We even stop talking to each other at times. But in the end, family is family… The love will always be there.

References

Kerr, Michael E (2000). “One Family’s Story: A Primer on Bowen Theory.” The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. Retrieved from http://www.thebowencenter.org.