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A review and commentary about the recent film.
Another in the series of true life hero movies out this year, "Pride " tells the story of gifted African-American swimmer Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), who is hindered from using his talents because of the color of his skin. Beginning in 1964, when he is booed out of a school swim meet and ends up in a scuffle with police, Ellis is still unable to get a good coaching job at Main Line Academy 10 years later. He is actually told to his face that a person like himself would not be able to "communicate properly with our students" — who are white.
Taking a menial job, despite his college degree, Ellis agrees to pack up the unused local Philadelphia Department of Recreation center before the building is torn down. Immediately butting heads with longtime maintenance man Elston (Bernie Mac), Ellis is quickly distracted by the discovery of a swimming pool in the building. Mainly for his own enjoyment, he cleans it up, fills it, and invites some local teens to swim on the hot summer days.
Ellis' natural desire to share his knowledge of swimming leads to the creation of a recreation center swim team. There are many lessons to learn for the young men who are facing the same prejudice Ellis did, as well as the temptations of easy drug money on the street. Their families are none too supportive either and see it as a waste of time and energy. It's not like any of them will be able to earn college scholarships, one complains.
Very few high school team sport players go on to get scholarships or make a career of their ability, but that does not mean that there are not a million lessons to be learned in being a member of a team, working hard to achieve a goal, and striving to accomplish the best you are capable of. Those are life lessons beyond what any scholarship can offer.
And, as the title would indicate, this film focuses heavily on the lessons about true pride that these young men, as well as Ellis and Elston, learn. This moral character quality of pride is approached from the two opposite fronts that it often presents.
The first is the negative side of pride that is stubborn, arrogant and headstrong. The dictionary refers to this as conceit and the condition of one of the seven deadly sins (according to the Bible). The recreation center swim team finds itself expressing this negative pride many times early on in its refusal to play by the rules and behave with manners appropriate to a serious swim meet. Thinking they look tough and above their competition, they end up looking like street thugs and fools. "Pride goeth before a fall," Ellis warns them - and, man, do they fall flat. But they also learn from the fall.
What they learn is the other definition and the true sense of pride. It's a proper sense of dignity or self-respect, and a pleasure or satisfaction that should be taken in a job well done. There is no sinfulness or arrogant taint in being proud of our hard-won accomplishments, and this is the lesson that both Ellis and the team have to learn.
The reason that the negative kind of pride can lead to a big fall is that it boosts our normal sense of self-worth to such a teeteringly high level that there is bound to be an adjustment and correction before long.
"Pride is a hooded hawk which flies in darkness," my spiritual mentor said (Mary Baker Eddy , "Miscellaneous Writings," p. 145). That's quite a visual! I can just imagine that poor hooded hawk banging into trees and walls in an attempt to land or accomplish its mission. In that double darkness, he stands very little chance of any success or graceful activity.
But if pride begins with an expression of grace, reflecting that divine grace that each of us has as a creation of God, then it develops into a force that uplifts and supports. Pride that involves self-respect also somehow seems to involve respect for others and a humility that always strives for better and better things.
When we walk hand in hand with those around us, there is no false pinnacle from which to fall. Then we can feel pride in our efforts and accomplishments, regardless of whether we win or lose. That's what the recreation center team learns in the end. Take pride in what your teammates accomplish and how they are growing and learning. Take pride in your work and your personal bests. Always strive to compete and to live in a way of which you honestly can be proud.
The real-life Jim Ellis did what no one thought possible, and he continues the same work today in that same Philadelphia Department of Recreation center that he saved from being closed down three decades ago. His swimmers do go on to earn college scholarships, and some have gone to the Olympic trials.
Ellis says that PDR stands for "pride, determination and resilience," and he expects to see his swimmers express these qualities. Being a member of the PDR swim team is more than about winning. It's a life lesson in character education that the world could use more of. Ellis sees the best in those he coaches and never accepts that their financial status or skin color can limit their life goals. That's something to be truly proud of.
"Pride" isn't the best movie of its kind, but Terrence Howard shines (as always) and the talented young actors in the cast are solid. Even Bernie Mac displays a depth of emotion that he is rarely allowed. There are a few generic and brief mentions of sex, including a bit of ogling, but the main family consideration would be the realistic issues of race discrimination, inner city life, and use of the "n" word. It's a film to see together and discuss, but a film worth the time and effort.
Read more spiritually insightful columns at Religion and Spirituality.com .
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