Golfer led to new journey in life
by Lisa Seehusen, reporter

     When a mysterious caddy enters a former golfer’s life, the town of Savannah is never the same.
     Junuh, played by Matt Damon, had been an excellent golfer until 1928, when he enlisted to fight in World War I.
     After surviving the devastating war, Junuh loses his vision for life. Although he had a promising future as a golfer, he loses all desire to play.
    The Great Depression has devastated the southern town of Savannah.
Adelle, played by Charlize Therone, is the daughter of the wealthiest man in Savannah.
     Her father commits suicide when no one has enough money to attend his new golf resort.
     Adelle desperately wants to bring people to the resort and pay off her father’s debts. She persuades two famous golfers to play on her course, but the people of Savannah want a golfer to represent their hometown.
     Junuh (Adelle’s boyfriend 10 years before the war) is remembered for his amazing swing.
     Adelle’s persuasive techniques and a 10-year-old boy influence Junuh to play in the tournament.
     From out of nowhere, Bagger Vance (Will Smith) goes to Junuh and volunteers to be his caddy and help him find the swing he once had.
     Bagger has a great sense of humor and knowledge of golf. When Junuh is losing the tournament, Bagger helps him focus on just the ball and the hole and block out everyone else.
     “Do not view the flag as something to be slayed,” Bagger tells Junuh.
     Bagger encourages Junuh to find his authentic swing.
     The viewer is kept on the edge of his seat as each of the three players approaches golf in his own way.
     The confused romance between Junuh and the spoiled Adelle is threaded throughout the story.
     Adelle plays hard to get as Junuh seeks to win Adelle’s heart which had been broken following the war.
     Smith’s Bagger is a very likable character with his easy-going personality and humble words of encouragement.
     Smith does a good job of lightening the mood and throwing out humor.
     The beautiful Theron accurately portrays Adelle as a selfish, rich woman who does everything in her power to get what she wants. Damon gives an excellent portrayal of a man who loses his will to live after the war.
     His charisma and unforgettable smile capture the audience’s heart in a way that will be remembered.
     Bagger explains to Junuh that golf is a game that can only be played, not won—just like life.
     “You lost your swing, so we gotta go find it,” Bagger says.
     Even someone who does not follow the game of golf can be swept away by the depth and symbolism that holds the movie together. It has just the right mixture of myth, mood and romance.
     Just like every other film directed by Robert Redford, The Legend of Bagger Vance is about life, not golf.
     Redford believes that people can relate to sports and that sports can be related to life being comparable to the obstacles that are thrown one’s way.
     The golf match is compared to one’s journey through life.
     Junuh is taken up and down hills, brought into the dark woods and then the open sunshine.
     An 18-hole game of golf helps Junuh find his way through life.
     The Legend of Bagger Vance is a must see!