Movie | Flash of Genius | Spoiler Alert

What would you sacrifice for your life’s work?

What would you give up for your idea of your honor?

Your job? Your wife? Your sanity?

Someone recommended Flash of Genius to Jenna a few weeks ago. We finally got around to watching it the other night.

The basic premise from the FOG web-site:

Based on the true story of college professor and pan-time inventor Robert Kearns’ long battle with the U.S. automobile industry, flash of Genius tells the tale of one man whose fight to receive recognition for his ingenuity would cone at a heavy price. But this determined engineer refused to be silenced, and he took on the corporate titans in a battle that nobody thought he could win.

The Kearns were a typical 1960s Detroit family, trying to live their version of the American Dream. Local university professor Bob married teacher Phyllis and, by their mid-30s, had six kids who brought them a hectic but satisfying Midwestern existence. when Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob’s creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it.

Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. lie becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work—or for that matter, anyone’s work—be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.

Well he does. He brings Goliath to his knees. He is successful beyond anyone’s expectations.

But is he? Sure, he gets his due. His honor is restored in millions of dollars and two winning court decisions. But his obsession destroys his life.

At one point, he lost his family, his job, his sanity, and his wife. And though he still loves her and I believe she feels the same way, she walks away and never looks back. She even tells him, “You’ll always have another battle to fight…”

We love the underdog. It makes for good drama and great news stories. Did this underdog pay too high a price for winning his battle? And was his battle really worth it?

I left the movie thinking that I hope I never become him. I never want my life’s work to trump my life. I want to be successful and excellent at my job. I want to be respected for the work that I do. But if fighting for that means I need to leave all of the relationships that mean anything to be in the dust, I would be OK without the respect.

I say that, but would I make the same choice if I were faced with the same choices?

Wow, I sure hope so.

Any thoughts from the blogosphere? Post ‘em below!

For further discussion on this: Read Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley.