Tetsu Susumu

Before going out for late dinner yesterday, I managed to catch “Shining Boy and Little Randy” on Astro's Celestial Movies Channel. Alongside with my uncles (both young and old), auntie and cousins, I rested on the sofa, enjoying every bit of the movie which is based on a true story. It's the type of movie that makes you ponder and reflect on life and I gotta say it's an inspiring movie indeed. I will tell you guys the story in a nutshell. Basically, it emphasizes on how a young japanese chap struggled through life to pursue his dream career. Life was never easy for Tetsu Susumu, the protagonist. At school, he was belittled and shunned by his schoolmates as they claimed that he stank of animals as his family was running an animal ranch. And what's more, his mother was all about work and never really cared about him or his siblings. However, he realized that he could communicate with elephants when his mother bought one from a closed down zoo in order to improve family's business. His interest grew and with support from his sister and granny, he made up his mind and left his family for a school in Thailand where he would learn to master the art of training the mammal. The early stage was undeniably tough; he was teased and looked down by other trainees since he was not faring well and screwed up every now and then. There was a time when he nearly lost his life during the hunt of his lost elephant but luckily he was saved by it in return. Despite the language barrier and hard times, he gradually adapted to the lifestyle of the “Mahouts” (Elephant Trainers) and his relationship with his fellow trainees got better. He picked up their language fairly well too. He spent his days bonding with his elephant in training and got used to eating exotic food like beetles and lizards. After 18 months of groundwork, he went back to his homeland where he trained his family's elephants (Mickey and Randy) and put on a good show. He then got to know a girl who had a liking for animals and they got close. When things were changing for the better, a sudden tragedy struck him and took his life. His cold mother was moved to tears when the girl told her that his true intention was to fulfil his mother's wish. Tear jerking moments followed. Finally the movie ended with a scene back in Thailand, where his trained elephant, Farr had an offspring which was named after him (Tetsu) and being trained by one of the trainees. It gave us the thought that he was reborn into the elephant. My auntie is so displeased by the ending and suggested that they should have concluded it with a happy ending and enclosed a message at the end of movie saying that Tetsu Susumu died in real life. *Lol*