Review of Seven Pounds (2008) by Julia M — 03 Jan 2012

"In seven days, God created the world. And in seven seconds, I shattered mine". In this purgative, redempting film, seven strangers indeed share one secret. A touching drama about a man who pays off for his hastiness and recklessness with flesh, his guilt in the face of seven innocent victims of a car crash, caused by the man himself.

The meaning of the original title was kept in secret by the production crew, to prevent the viewers from guessing the idea of the plot. In fact, the title refers to the Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", where the merchant Antonio agrees to give the moneylender Shylock a pound of his flesh if his debt is not paid in time.

In the film, the expression of "a pound of flesh" has both literal and metaphorical meanings - by giving off, donating his organs to people who deserve them, the main hero, portrayed by Will Smith, commits an act of redemption, making up his guilt.

The plot is not complicated, yet riveting and tense. From the very beginning we have this disputing feeling of a redempting tragedy. *SPOILER STARTS* Two years before the actual events taking place in the film, Tim Thomas (portrayed by Will Smith), reading a text message while driving, causes a car crash in which seven people die: six strangers and his fiancee, Sarah Jenson.

In a bid for redemption, Tim sets out to save the lives of seven good people. A year after the crash, Tim donates a lung lobe to his brother, Ben (portrayed by Michael Ealy). Six months later he donates part of his liver to a child services worker named Holly.

After that, he begins searching for more candidates to receive donations. He finds George, a junior hockey coach, and donates a kidney to him. Some time later, he donates a bone marrow to a young boy named Nicholas.

Two weeks before he dies, he contacts Holly and asks if she knows anyone else who deserves help. She suggests Connie Tepos, who lives with an abusive boyfriend. Tim moves out of his house and into a local motel, taking with him his deadly jellyfish pet.

Later he goes to Connie's house to talk to her about her problem, but she denies that anything is wrong, and asks him to leave. He sets down his business card, urging her to "think about it", as he is ushered out the door.

One night, after being beaten, Connie contacts Tim and he gives her the keys and deed to his beach house, with the stipulation that she never tries to contact him, and never tells anyone how she came to own the house.

She takes her children and moves into their new home. Having made himself known by his brother's name, Ben, he checks out candidates for his two final donations. The first candidate is Ezra Turner (portrayed by Woody Harrelson), a blind meat salesman who plays the piano.

Tim calls Ezra and harasses him at work to check if he is quick to anger. Ezra remains calm and Tim decides he is worthy. He then contacts Emily Posa (portrayed by Rosario Dawson), a self-employed greeting card printer who has a heart condition and a rare blood type.

He spends time with her, trying to get to know her closer, and, apparently, begins to fall in love with her, and decides that as her condition has worsened he needs to make his donation. After an interlude with Emily, Tim leaves her sleeping and returns to the motel.

He fills the bathtub with ice water to preserve his vital organs, climbs in, and commits suicide by pulling his poisonous jellyfish into the water with him. His friend Dan (portrayed by Barry Pepper) acts as an executor to ensure that his organs are donated to Emily and Ezra.

Ezra receives his corneas and Emily receives his heart. Afterwards, in the very end, Emily meets Ezra at his concert in a park. Ezra doesn't recognize Emily as they never met before, but by the way she is looking into his eyes, he understands she must be Tim's girlfriend.

"You must be Emily", - Ezra smiles. Tears streaming down Emily's face, she says nothing, just keeps crying as they hug. *SPOILER ENDS* Most people call this film "depressing, oppressive, sad, tragic".

But they are only half-right. Following the story carefully, going through all the details, feelings and emotions that the main heroes go through, you can't just call the story depressing. It is truly redempting.

Tears of Emily, as well as tears of most viewers in the end of the film are not the tears of sadness at all. Those are tears of lightening and relief. The debt is paid off. The worthy people got worthless gifts for life.

The gifts of life. And this is not depressing. This is what is rather called, "light sadness". *PERSONAL IMPACT* Following the story carefully, going through all the details, feelings and emotions that the main heroes go through, I can't just call the story depressing.

It is truly redempting. Tears of Emily, as well as mine in the end of the film are not the tears of sadness at all. Those are tears of lightening and relief. The debt is paid off. The worthy people got worthless gifts for life.

The gifts of life. And this is not depressing. This is what I usually call the "light sadness". The film really gives a feeling that a mountain gets off the shoulders. At first, you cry. Then you feel as light as never before.

A pure catharsis, this is what this film is. *WORTH WATCHING AGAIN?*Definitely. More than once, more than twice. Whenever one is feeling down, suppressed or guilty. *RECOMMENDED TO*Everyone over 14 who is capable of understanding the nature of virtue in the name of redemption.

(Younger viewers just won't fully get the idea of the film).