If you, like me, are left feeling dejected, defeated, and hopeless after this election, it might feel hard to find solace in the real world. It's in times like these when I like to turn to the one thing that never fails me: movies. Movies can give us hope when we feel like there is none, especially in emotional times. But, while choosing the right ilm can lift you up, choosing the wrong one can make it worse. (I would not, for example, encourage you to watch a drama about politics right now.) With that in mind, if you're looking for hope in the fictional world, this scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the one movie scene you need to watch right now.
When this scene takes place, it's been a long journey trying to get the One Ring to Mordor, and Frodo is succumbing to the seductive power of the ring. In a heated moment of battle, he almost surrenders, and narrowly escapes killing Sam in a rage. Amidst the rubble, Frodo turns to Sam and asks the question we are all asking each other today: "What are we holding onto, Sam?" Sam's response is simple: "That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."
Any Lord of the Rings fan will tell you that Sam, not Frodo, is the true hero of the franchise's story. Every time Frodo feels like giving in, Sam is there to pull him back and remind him of their purpose. If the results of the presidential election are making you feel like giving in, let Sam be there for you today and the days ahead. It might sound ridiculous to some to look for inspiration in a movie about hobbits and elves and a magic ring, but sometimes fantasy is more effective than reality. In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, there is no risk of a president Trump, but there is the risk of an evil wizard taking over Middle Earth, enslaving and killing all living beings, and turning the world into a never-ending hell. If Frodo and Sam can find some small hope in their twisted and dangerous world, then surely we can find some in ours.
No, The Two Towers will not and cannot take us back in time or change what has happened in the past 24 hours. But maybe it can bring you hope for the next 24. And, if it can't do that, it will at least distract you for a good three hours — longer, if you watch the extended version.
Images: New Line Cinema; ladyeovvyn-archive/tumblr (3)
