Wow! I am not a gamer. I have barely played Mario Cart a dozen times with my daughter, so to imagine the insane true story of Gran Turismo was quite the movie ride. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who can appreciate a great, true story.
I was literally cheering in the theater and clapping with awe and approval throughout. It was such an inspiring, unbelievable story. I wanted to take some good lessons away from the overall theme.
I will TRY very hard not to spoil or ruin the story for you, but I wanted to share a few key ideas.
My favorite line: One of the last scenes in the movie, Jann has to put himself back into the game mindset & reminds his coach that he needs to follow his own line. I love that! Each and everyone of us has uniqueness and skills that are our very own; unlike anyone else. We must remember that in all we do. There is not another person like us. We have to show up and live the life we are meant to follow. Follow your own line!! No one else’s!
Some other key points and take aways:
“Sometimes when I’m driving I can be going so fast and everything else is moving so slow. And so the rest of the world just falls away and there is just you and the car and that’s it. It’s kind of magic.” [Jann to Audrey] I think this line is almost like a relaxing meditation, a place you can go that is free from the noise of the world. Sometimes when you are walking in nature, finding a stillness watching water or waves, planting flowers, etc. There is a inner place that seems to slow, to unwind and almost just lets go. That is a beautiful space.
“Good news no one thinks we can do this.” [Jack to Jann]. This story was definitely one for the underdogs. Who doesn’t cheer for those who no one believes in. The story was peppered with disbelief and struggle and fight.
Jann was talking to his father, “You remember this day? You took this with me when I was five. All I wanted to do since then is be a racer. I’m doing it. Whether you believe in me or not.” This was powerful because I think there are moments in everyone’s life when we are told limiting tales that either build or break us at certain moments in our lives. It was wonderful to see someone with such a spirit of conviction and determination. We all need examples of that. We all need people who push beyond the barriers and show the world that they were made for greater distances. We all have that within us. Some are just better at following their own heart and believing in their dreams. May we all FEEL the personal greatness we were born with. It is there!
“Nobody’s gonna welcome you into this world. The other drivers, your pit crew, nobody wants you here.” [Jack to Jann]. I think we have all had moments where we felt like an outsider, someone didn’t want to work with us, we didn’t belong, etc. Life is full of those moments. Those are the situations that help refine and define us. Think about a time when you felt like this. What did you learn about yourself? This was a defining part in the movie for Jann. He had to push forward despite knowing most of the racing community did not want him.
“If you miss a line in the game you reset. If you miss it on the track you could die.” This whole story pushed the stakes on every level. We all get opportunities, challenges, life shifts, doors that open, people who come into our lives to push us to a different path…life is a different level for every single person. Some deal with heartbreaking tragedy, where another struggles to step out of depression. Someone may lose a child or someone else may lose a job. Every situation is different for one another on some level. It is how we face the challenge. It is how we live through the pain. It is how we learn through the struggle that helps us reset and move beyond on some level.
“I know you’re scared. I’ve been scared. But whether you like it or not, you are in this race.” [Jack to Jann]. We have all been scared in life. Those are those moments that you learn and grow from. It doesn’t make life easier, it just allows you to know and understand how strong you can become. Jann was a great example of facing the fear and moving forward despite it.
Jack Salter encouraged Jann by telling him,”You look for continual improvement… You’ve got instincts. That can’t be taught.” If we are always looking for continual improvement, then life will support us in any endeavor, dream and direction. It is when we become stagnate and disillusioned that life gets heavier and the dreams seem farther away. We must follow those strengths that we have and strive to get a little better each day. Learning is continual growth and improvement.
It was a very powerful movie. There will always be critics. There will always be comments–good or bad, but when you have a story that has a hero you can get behind—you can always learn something. Highly recommend. Go see it!!
Have an incredible day!! Go Live it! -H
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