The Peaks or the Line?

The Peaks or the Line?

“The Peaks or the Line” is an analysis of the euthanasia theme in the movie “Million Dollar Baby.” “Million Dollar Baby” is an inspiring story of a poor waitress named Maggie who turns into an accomplished boxer with the help of her trainer, Frankie. Toward the end of the movie, a horrific accident happens to Maggie, and at her request, Frankie puts her to death. An analysis of this euthanasia theme is not an argument over the morality of it but rather an evaluation on its effectiveness in the context of a movie. Since “Million Dollar Baby” is a serious film, it is expected that it should give a good representation of a sensitive social issue. “Million Dollar Baby” cannot effectively address the complications of a euthanasia theme. The way Frankie, a emotionally torn man, decides to fulfill his boxer’s death wish is unrealistic. The way the movie paints a calm portrait of Maggie prior to her death is also troublesome, since it makes her wish to die seems like a clear-cut decision, which is not likely to be. This film also focuses too much over the issue of broken dreams, that it seems to skim over the fact that in many instances, the reason for a person to resort to euthanasia is the inability to obtain adequate care and social negligence. Such reasons render the euthanasia representation of this movie ineffective.