Auryn: The Childlike Empress’s Medallion
The Neverending Story (1984) is a captivating adaptation of a German novel ‘Die Unendliche Geschichte‘ written by Michael Ende. The movie has been co-written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
The story revolves around a young boy Bastian who has recently lost his mother. Her death has left him baffled and he keeps having recurring dreams about her. Bastian’s father is a busy man who wants him to move on and is little interested in talking about things which interest him. Bastian is now left in companionship of his books which feed his imagination and allow him to live the life of his dreams. On his way to school, Bastian meets his bullies who chase him off into a library. The librarian, an old man, talks about a mysterious book he has and warns Bastian to stay from it. Bastian, however, dismisses his warning and hides the book in his jacket while the librarian is busy attending a phone call. When the librarian returns, he finds a note by Bastian saying he will return the book.
Bastian skips the math test and hides in an empty classroom to read the book. As he opens the book, Bastian gets lost in its adventures and forms a bond with the main character who is also the savior of Fantasia(the imaginary land of human hopes and dreams) –Atreyu.
Through Atreyu, Bastian lives all the adventures and experiences until the Childlike Empress reveals to Atreyu that his main task was to bring the earthling child to her, carrying him within his soul. The Childlike Empress then asks Bastian to call her name and save Fantasia from ‘The Nothing’.
The Ivory Tower
Bastian finally agrees to it and saves Fantasia by believing in the power of his dreams. It is his belief in his dreams and wishes which brings back all the dead parts and beings of Fantasia to life.
The Neverending Story(1984) has some really good lines which can serve as life lessons or quotes. The ones which truly struck a chord with my soul were:
Everyone knew that whoever let sadness overtake him would sink into the swamp (of despair).
It has to hurt if it’s to heal.
Confronted with their true selves, most men run away screaming.
Fantasia is a fantasy land. Each part, each creature is made up of human dreams and hopes. Therefore, it has no boundaries.
Because people are losing hope in their dreams, the Nothing grows stronger. What is the Nothing? It is the emptiness that’s left. It’s like a despair destroying this world.
People who have no hopes are easy to control and whoever has the control, has the power.
These were just some of my favorite lines in the movie. If you want more good lines and motivating speech, then listen to the title track with lyrics, you will fall in love with it too. All in all, the Neverending Story is quite uplifting and motivating in its essence. It propagates the view that kids must be allowed to ‘do what they dream or wish to do’ and in doing so they may find their true selves. So this was a wrap, until next time, ciao from us.
The Neverending Story (1984) Trailer