My Essay on 'The Power Of One'

Introduction: 
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be born in the year of apartheid with nobody by your side to comfort you? In John Avildsen ‘The Power of One’, P.k is one of the main character’s that is revealed, P.ks mother gave birth to him few weeks after his father died. His father gave P.k his name, ‘Peter Philip Kenneth Keith’ but the mother called him by his initials ‘P.K.’ P.k grew up in South Africa, it was his home, their life was perfect. Until one moment they found out that their cattle died, and that moment P.k Realized that something in his mother broke, and that very moment he also felt something for the first time and it was ‘Fear’.

 When P.k’s Mother got sick, P.k soon had to leave to a school that they only can afford which is one by the Africanas. He was the only English that goes to that school, So he got bullied their. The bully’s name is Borta, now Borta believes that all English deserves to be punished due to what the English did in the past which was killing the Africanas, and that he will punish English too, starting with P.K, by killing his chicken. The chicken, was given to P.K by the witch doctor as a guide to help him find his courage and overcome his bed wetting. Therefore, when the chicken is killed, P.k will now have to be courageous on his own, since his mother and father died. In this way, we see the character of P.k is a very strong person learning to live without his father and mother. This can be juxtaposed to later in the film when his first Love ‘Maria’ is killed by a Guard and P.K once again loses his loved ones.

Another thing about PKs character is that he treats everyone equally. As in school he is able to forgive and not hold grudges against a whole race of the actions of a few, after Borta killed his chicken, he found out that his Nanny died, another loved one gone. He felt lonely, scared, and full of sadness, and at that point, he knew that he’d never see them again. His grandfather came home from Congo at his place where the English lived, P.K was sent to live with him. P.K soon felt better than before, he learned how to ride a donkey, swim, and even drive a Beethoven, Doc (the grandfather) showed him how to look at things differently now. They were so happy, until some English visitors came and told P.Ks grandfather that he is to be sent to Prison due to failure to register as an alien civilization, P.K then realizes that the Afrikanas were not the only ones to hate and fear others. P.K and Doc ended up in prison, but made some good friends like Geel Piet. He actually learned how to box their in Prison tho from his teacher/friend Geel Piet. He was very happy to meet him.

Conclusion: 
How I see P.K in this film, is that even tho his life is like a roller coaster he will always find his way out with Happiness. Avildsen made an outstanding job with the film ‘The Power of one’. He effectively used different angle shots to highlight the power of a person or makeup effects to show the impact a baton can have on you. These films explain how easily people in power can manipulate others but ultimately makes P.K realize that he can create a difference whether it be a significant or insignificant one. I suggest to those who study apartheid or human rights to view alluring film.