In life learning takes place in different form whether formal in informal and through different aspects which might not necessary involve carrying books. Movies is one aspect of life where we learn things. They are very interesting and are not just for the fun of watching but a tools of learning because they show different aspects of life through stories.
I love watching two kinds of movies, the Hollywood movies and Nollywood movies. Each of them has its own way of teaching me lessons, and at the end of almost every movie, I usually learn something meaningful.
From Hollywood movies, one major lesson I always notice is the battle between good and evil. In many of these movies, evil may appear very strong at the beginning. Sometimes the villains attack, take over, or even seem to have full control over a city or the country mostly United States, and it might looks as if hope is completely gone. But somehow, along the way, someone rises to fight back, and in the end good defeats evil. This movies (Hollywood) teaches me that no matter how powerful evil may seem, it cannot last forever. Goodness and truth always have the final victory.
Another lesson I get from Hollywood movies is the idea of never giving up but fighting till victory is attain. Even when the character(s) face very hard battles, they keep fighting until the end. These films also present the United States as a nation that does not surrender, no matter how tough the situation may be. The country always finds a way to survive and overcome difficulties. From this, I learn that in life I should not give up, even when things become difficult. If I continue to fight for what is right, there will be victory at last.
Now coming to the Nollywood movies.
The Nollywood teach lessons in a different but also equally important way. Unlike Hollywood movies that sometimes use imagination, superheroes or advanced technology, Nollywood movies on the other hand are usually about real issues in society. The stories often reflect the culture, lifestyle, struggles, and daily experiences of people around us. Many times when I watch Nollywood movies, I relate the events in the film to what is happening in the society or even in families that I know.
One lesson I always get from Nollywood movies is that life may begin with sorrow and pain, but joy often comes at the end. In many of these movies, the characters start by going through hardship, betrayal, poverty, or suffering. The beginning is usually filled with tears and challenges. But as the story goes on, changes start to happen, and by the end, there is relief, a change of story and happiness at the end. This gives me the lesson that in life, no matter how bitter the beginning may be, it does not mean the end will remain the same. There is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
For example, I watched a Nollywood movie yesterday about a lady who had been in a relationship with her man for over seven years. She loved him so much that she always overlooked his faults, but he kept maltreating her. He insulted her in public, mocked her looks and body structure, got irritated at her food and dressing, and never valued her. Even when he was wrong, she was always the one apologizing. Her friends cautioned her, but she always gave excuses for his behaviour. His own friends even warned him, but he refused to change. One day, the lady met another man who loved her genuinely, cared for her, and supported her business. Eventually, she left her former partner and moved on with the new man who respected her. When her old partner realized his mistake, it was too late. She refused to return to him. I learned three lessons from that movie, I learned that sometimes life does not always give us a second chance to amend our mistake and we may never know the value of what we have until it is taken away from us and that no matter the situation, there is always a brighter future.
So, the Hollywood and Nollywood movies give me valuable lessons about life and these lessons make me understand life better and give me the strength to keep moving forward, no matter the situation.