Running on Empty

This film is a story of a countercultural couple, Annie and Arthur on the run from FBI and how one of their son Danny started to have his own life. Yet the crisis of this family is very much relevant to what every family has going through. The journey of this family is just like an adventure, they have to keep moving to a new place to avoid the caught of FBI. The story is started when they have moved to a new town. 

Arthur plays a father and husband role. His character as a father is just same as every father in the real world who always making sure every family member is in the safe zoom. He plays a very important role to be a role model of his kids and make sure they do not disclose their real identity to public. I can see Arthur as a father, he wants to keep his family close just like every father does. This can be seen in the scene when Danny wants to study at Julliard but he do not allowed Danny to do so because he knows once he give the permission, he may never see his son. The father-son relationship showed the greatness of love, Arthur has finally allowed his son to stay at the town to continue his study at the school to pursue his dream. I believe this is a great and hard decision for every parent as their kid will going to leave them temporary. A very special scene in this film between Arthur and Danny is Arthur did not get angry when he knew Danny had have sex with girlfriend. This is totally different and I guess it will never happen among Asian parents. Arthur plays a good husband role as well when they were celebrating his wife birthday to strengthen the bonding between each other. Aurthur tries to give what he can give to his wife and kids. 

Annie as a mother, she loves her sons very much. A close relationship between a mother and a son can be seen between Annie and Danny. The secure attachment of Danny towards his mother can be seen when he is hugging and playing piano together with his mother. Annie loves her kids very much as every mother does. The moment when she knew Danny likes Lorna, she is very supportive and positive toward Danny’s action. Meanwhile, Annie found out about Danny's audition, and begins to come to terms with the fact that she must let her son go and find his 'own' way. This does not sit well with Arthur, even as Annie risks their safety to contact her estranged father and arrange a home and life for Danny if they should decide to leave him behind. In the end, when Arthur hears on the radio that one of their underground colleagues has been shot and killed running from the authorities, he realizes that it is better for his son to pursue his dreams than to continue living a dangerous life on the run for which he bears no responsibility. Authoritative parenting can be seen in this film as Annie and Arthur allow Danny to explore more freely and having them to make their own decisions based upon their own reasoning even though there are sometimes to letting their kids go.  

Danny, a teenager who is overwhelming as a pianist had catch the attention of his music teacher.  His music teacher pushes him to audition for Julliard, a famous music school of world and his talent have gotten the chance to study at Julliard. Danny is an early matured teenage due to the environment he is living with. He wants to study at Julliard but he finally still put his parents on the top. His respect and maturity should be learned for every teenager as it is every important to put our parents at the first place.  While Danny’s music teacher pushes Danny to audition for Julliard, Danny also falls in love with Lorna, the teacher's teenage daughter. The intimate love can be seen between them. As the pressure to have his own life and realize his own dreams intensifies, Danny reveals his family secret to Lorna.  He learns the value of love in the relationship during his teenage stage. 

After watching this film, I believe every one is trying to play their own role well in real world. No matter what cultural we are living with, the values of love, maturity, honesty, intimacy, passionate, genuine, appreciation as well as trustworthy are every important in every stage of life. Every one is learning the new things in every moment and experience. Without love, laughing and happinness, I believe the world will turn into quiet and dark.