For the assignment I chose to watch Erin Brokovich, I have seen it in the past but figured since I was familiar with the story I could more easily focus on the items that pertain to this class than I could with a movie that I hadn't seen before.
-The main character, Erin, faced a number of conflicts in the movie...these included conflicts that were career related, personal conflicts as well and family life conflicts. But just as difficult as it is to deal with those issues it is also hard to balance all of the challenges you could face resulting from the conflicts. Erin deals with the ups and downs at her job. She gets a new job opportunity but quickly blows it by not communicating well. Had she communicated with Ed and her co workers, and informed them of the project she was working on, it is quite possible that she would not have been fired. She also struggles with personal relationships...she has been divorced twice before and the emotional damage from those failed relationships shows in the difficulty she has letting a new man into her life. She gets very involved in the conflict with PG&E and begins to neglect her family responsibilities. It is evident that at least in the beginning she is really struggling to balance the commitments she has made to the different people in her life.
-I believe the conflicts are absolutely realistic. I am sure there are many people that deal with these internal and external conflicts on a daily basis.
-In hind site, it is easy to say that I would be a more consistent communicator. Erin seems to occasionally let her emotions get the best of her...this is evident in the court room, when she blows up and ends up costing herself a settlement in the accident case, and again she messed up when she didn't communicate with the boss and co workers which ends up getting her fired. Over commitment is something many people get involved with. I try not to stretch myself too thin, so that I can fulfill the obligations I have as a student, employee and husband as best as possible. Erin didn't seem to quite stay in control of her life, however she does what she feels is best for her family.
-I think Erin's negotiating and communication skills developed significantly throughout the film. At the beginning there were the two instances where she had difficulty with communication. But through her job and her acceptance of a new man in her life she is able to communicate better. The results of her improved communication skills are settlements for the families that suffer from issues caused by PG&E in the amount of $300 million. She is able to communicate with them and inform them that the reason they are sick is not what the doctor paid by PG&E says but the reason she is giving the. She gains their trust and develops a relationship with them. Her negotiating skills help her with getting the settlement and the information needed to get the necessary information to improve her negotiation tools.
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Bryce you are so right on the realities erin has to face are problems that many single moms must confront on a everyday basis. I agree with your take on the movie concerning all her relationships, but I think the reason she took the case is because most of her clients were the underdog and she could relate to them, she really cared and she was just tired of people taking advantage of people like herself and getting away with it. She was going to win that case no matter what even if her personal life suffered. I still get the chills when she jumps down into the pond basin to retrieve that dead frog. I am afraid of frogs, but in all it was a very powerful movie and a true story, good post.
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