If you are a martial artist and have not seen the movie “A History of Violence”, you should.
In fact, I’m surprised it hasn’t gotten more recognition at the Academy Awards.
There are many movies that have been recommended to me to demonstrate various aspects of bravery and positive values. Included are “Braveheart,” “The Last Samurai,” “Rob Roy,” and “Gladiator.”
But none of these really delve into the NEED and INTIMACY of violence the way “History” does.
Tom Stall, the main character, owns a small cafe in a remote town in Indiana. This is the kind of place where you have to say “Hello” or “Hello” to people passing by. I have lived in a very similar Hoosier shelter, and this film captures the atmosphere very well.
One night, two certified bad guys walk into the cafe at closing time and Stall tries to talk them out of it, but relents and serves them coffee. The situation quickly deteriorates and Stall is the last man standing, having displayed killer moves he didn’t think he was capable of.
His answer puts him on the evening news, seemingly everywhere. More bad guys come to his cafe, intimidate his family and put him in a “fight or flight” situation.
There is a central mystery in the film that I won’t discuss, because that would reveal the gist of the plot.
But here are some of the key points that I take away from this film that I think apply to all martial artists:
(1) Some fights cannot be avoided. Be prepared for them, always, and do what you must, without hesitation or remorse. It’s “right to fight” more often than you’ve been taught.
(2) A famous philosopher said: “Strength is the ultimate virtue.” Is it more important than love? Can love find a home without the strength to protect and shelter it?
(3) Battles are often not between good and evil, but between extreme evils and lesser evils. They are not the same. A trace of virtue is better than nothing at all, and it may be completely defensible.
(4) Personal transformation is possible and desirable, but the dead hand of the past will still reach us, so be careful. Your past will find you, and no matter how you interpret it, today, others will have a competing vision that they refuse to let go. We will always be confronted with who we were, or at least who others think we were.
I’ve seen this movie twice, and will probably watch it another dozen times, gaining more nuance with each viewing.
I think it will be worth watching with some fellow martial artists. Her physical appearance will catch her eye, but long after, the issues she raises will really impress and possibly change him.
And you’ll probably come away asking, “How much am I like Tom Stall?”