Written & Directed: Paul Thomas Anderson
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| https://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt1560747/ |
This is a convoluted movie, likely requiring multiple viewings to fully appreciate the filmmaker's intended message and decipher the cryptic narrative.
The story is said to be based on the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the controversial figure who founded the Church of Scientology, as well as tales of World War II veterans with PTSD. It is said that the filmmaker did not want to admit to Hubbard's reference implicitly. It was the time when members of the Scientology Church were all ballistic against anyone who went against or ridiculed the teachings of Hubbard. There had been numerous legal disputes involving the Church, some initiated by the Church itself and others against it. Tom Cruise, the poster boy of Scientology, even took a publisher to court for implying that the Church had something to do with his divorce from Holmes, his second marriage.
The premise of the story is this. A WWII Navy veteran, Freddie Quell, has a drinking problem and PTSD culminating from his involvement in combat. He goes adrift in life, just living his life by the bottle. He was once caught as a stowaway in a hatch owned by Leonard Dodd. Dodd is a leader of a cult-like group called 'The Cause'. Slowly, Dodd and Quell become close as Dodd realises that they had met in a previous life. He tries to treat Quell of his ailment through hypnosis. Dodd is clearly not a qualified therapist, but claims to know everything about everything.
Their relationship soon morphs into something akin to a Master-Servant one. Dodd gets into trouble with the Medical Council with his quackery, and Quell tries to defend his Master. Over time, this relationship collapses, and each departs.
The thing that intrigued me growing up was some of the conversations I had about the need for a Master (Guru) in matters of divinity and spiritual issues. I was told that it is like engaging a professional to get a job done. If you want to build a house, it is advisable to consult with a builder. Likewise, if someone is ill, they should not self-medicate but instead consult a doctor. Hence, reaching the lotus feet of the Lord is no different. My beef with these intermediaries was this. If the divine powers were so omnipotent and omniscient, being cognisant of what we are thinking even before we do it, can't they know our true intentions? Instead of depending on middlemen to do the messenger job? The human mind is capable of sorting things out, but it can sometimes get cluttered. That is when a professional needs to step back to get things in perspective.
A Master may give perspective from a particular point of view. Self-exploration may reveal aspects of the subject matter from various angles, providing a more comprehensive understanding. I think, for that to happen, the seeker must have a certain mental maturity.
