Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino.Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people.

Here is the story of the movie:

Two years ago Tim Thomas (Will Smith) was in a car crash, which was caused by him using his mobile phone; seven people died: six strangers and his fiancée, Sarah Jenson (Robinne Lee).
A year after the crash, and having quit his job as an aeronautical engineer, Tim donates a lung lobe to his brother, Ben (Michael Ealy), an IRS employee. Six months later he donates part of his liver to a child services worker named Holly (Judyann Elder). After that he begins searching for more candidates to receive donations. He finds George (Bill Smithrovich), a junior hockey coach, and donates a kidney to him, and then donates bone marrow to a young boy named Nicholas (Quintin Kelley).
Two weeks before he dies he contacts Holly and asks if she knows anyone who deserves help. She suggests Connie Tepos (Elpidia Carrillo), who lives with an abusive boyfriend. Tim moves out of his house and into a local motel taking with him his pet box jellyfish. One night, after being beaten, Connie contacts Tim and he gives her the keys and deed to his beach house. She takes her two children and moves in to their new home.

Having stolen his brother's credentials, and making himself known by his brother's name Ben, he checks out candidates for his two final donations. The first is Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), a blind meat salesman who plays the piano. Tim calls Ezra Turner 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 (Rosario Dawson), a self-employed greeting card printer who has a heart condition and a rare blood type. He spends time with her, weeding her garden and fixing her rare Heidelberg printer. He begins to fall in love with her and decides that as her condition has worsened he needs to make his donation.

His brother tracks him down to Emily's house. Ben then demands that Tim return his IRS ID to him. Tim leaves and returns to the motel. He fills the bathtub with ice water to preserve his vital organs, climbs in, and then commits suicide by pulling his extremely poisonous jellyfish into the water with him. His friend Dan (Barry Pepper) acts as executor to ensure that his organs are donated to Emily and Ezra. Ezra Turner receives his corneas and Emily receives his heart. Afterwards, Emily meets Ezra at a concert and they begin to talk.

Here is my review:

At the begining of the movie, I was clueless as to what 'Ben' was doing. He looked miserable whenever he is alone yet he was composed and charming when he was up and about communicating with people. I was shocked when he yelled at the blind meat salesman and called him mean names. Yet he was so sweet and helpful to others.

In the end, the movie revealed 'Ben' was suffering from guilt of destroying seven people's life, including his fiancee. A secret he bottled up within himself for as long as he achieved his mission to help those seven other people to live a normal life again.

I can't help but compared him to numerous people that I know in my life. It makes me wonder again that why are human beings tolerating and accepting self-suffering. Inner-soul suffering. It's the worst punishment anyone can endure in life. Of course Ben's example is a little extreme, most people I know would have little secrets and guilt built-up within themselves over a lifetime that would cause somehow an identical effect.

The show did affect me a little, in a sense that I feel there are a lot more Bens in this world that needs a little compassion and care to release his inner demons. I came across a book titled The Ripple Effect - Finding Inner Peace and Harmony by Anne Jones. It is a book or a guide to enhance personal enlightenment based on simple principles. I am still flipping through the first chapter and it did intrigued me to read on hoping as well that I am able to share the knowledge with love ones.

I am glad I watched the movie as it did remind me that I too can make a difference in someone's life with just a gentle touch of affection and compassion. When we leave this world, it is our gestures and memories that touched the heart of others. That will be the footprints that we will leave behind us forever.

**Personally, I would recommend watching this movie. A valuable and thought provoking movie, plus Will Smith is definately a great actor for he is able to portray the inner-suffering of the character.