The Sacrificing Tiger - A reflection on Rock on movie

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"I am dying since ten years" - Debbie says when Joseph Mascarenhas (Joe) justifies his disappearance over several evenings and tearfully tells her how their friend Rob is diagnosed with Stage 4 Brain Tumor. He comfortably tries to escape the whole confrontation with Debbie until she coerces him to play for a sailing band and earn enough for her and their son.

Live your dream is a powerful yet a dangerous notion. How far can one go for their dream? In the mortar and pestle of life, it is often the dreamer's family that gets pounded.

Joe, claiming to be emotional and broken, spends ten years of his life, teaching guitar and performing in nondescript clubs. While Debbie's life takes a U-turn and she ends up being the stronger of the two and managers their family fish business. The stench of the fish doesn't leave her.

While his friends have moved ahead, Joe, decides to stay stagnant. Debbie despite being the pushy householder lets him be, thinking he will make her proud again. And as time passes by, Joe, realizes his love is the band and its members. When he loved Debbie she was part of the group and all was sunny but when they got separated from the group, Joe was lost too. He sacrificed his life for being a purist.







Yes, all is well in the end but then this messy middle is where the crux of the movie lies - one makes sacrifices of their interests and the other of their thoughts. Both suffer. Both deny the suffering of the other. Despite the care and the love, there is tension, that was once diffused by the band's intervention but now loiters around like the fish smell.

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