The release of The Fly decades
ago was a commercial success, partly because of the way it was delivered and
partly, the subject it treated. Its relevance to the audience stems from its dealing
with human nature as an inevitable obstacle to achieving flawlessness in science
breakthroughs. The development of the plot made it interesting; it mystifies in
the beginning through the questions posed by the lead characters (and the
secretive attitude of the scientist’s wife), then unfolds efficiently the series
of events that unlock the mystery in a manner that the build-up of shock gave
the movie an overall element of thrill.
The film depicts the scientist as
an ever curious man that refuses to settle with his progress until his humanity
intervenes. This curiosity fuels his endeavour, as the quest for answers, or in
the movie, “the search for truth”, is what a scientist goes through all his
life. As long as he knows he is capable of executing an experiment whose
results people may have never seen before, he continues the task in pursuit of
a sense of achievement and a scientific discovery that will leave a mark in humankind
and alter the course of events in history. Two traits common to scientists are
manifested by Andre. These are the lack
of expansive vision; listing down the jeopardizing consequences of their research
if put to universal use is not prerequisite to releasing that research to the
world, and the far-fetched expectations of what their research can convey to
humanity.
Since the film was made during an
era of scientific exploration, it might have served as a warning that more than
the benefits of a scientific breakthrough, it is crucial for people in that
kind of venture to consider the dangers not only to the person in the field but
also to those important to him. Before Andrei was crushed using the hydraulic
press, the grave effect of his engrossment in his project to family ties was emphasized.
He was a bit estranged from his wife and his usual routine with his family was
interrupted. Even in making up for the lost time, he found it impossible to
part with his work and to avoid integrating this to normal daily activities. The
message of the film about science is clear: It is always in our hands to make something
as impactful as that beneficial for everyone.
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