Saving Mr. Banks - Movie Analysis Essay

Introduction

Saving Mr. Bank is a film that is directed by John Lee Hancock from a script that was written by Sue Smith and Kelly Marcel. The film is based on a true story, the immense influence fathers have on their kids and the great inspiration their legacy has on them as grown-ups. The main characters are Mr. Walter Disney and Ms. P.L. Travers. The move relates to the theories and practices of servant leadership and culture. According to Robert K. Greenleaf, the most effective servant leaders should be concerned about the well-being and the growth of the communities and people to which they belong ((Greenleaf, Spears, Covey, & Senge, (2002)). They should have no interest of attaining any positions or powers which has been portrayed by various characters throughout the entire film of Saving Mr. Bank. Different characters in the movie have expressed the qualities of being a servant leader. Servant leaders show the urge to put the needs of others first and help them develop and achieve their desires. Therefore, a servant leader should have the following characteristics; the ability to listen to others, understand and empathize with other people, the skills for healing one's self and others, gift to conceptualize, have a general as well as self-awareness, and finally be committed to build and improve the community. The film Save Mr. Bank contains leadership and culture topics. Saving Mr. Banks movie provides leadership principles that can influence people's lives and change their outlooks on who a servant leader is and their characteristics.

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Based on Robert K. Greenleaf's arguments about the characteristics of a servant leader, Walt Disney is a servant leader because he portrays most of these principles (Greenleaf, Spears, Covey, & Senge, (2002). First Disney was approachable and built a bridge for people to reach him, he permitted people to use his name when referring to him which shows how humble he is as a leader and had a good relationship with his children. He also portrayed the characteristics of an efficient servant leader when he managed to handle and endure with his challenging childhood and worked hard to be where he was in his life. As servant leader, Disney decided not to give up until he achieved great things and improved the life of his, he thought of the long-term impacts of his idea, which qualifies him to be a servant leader due to his ability about the possible results of his actions. Another incident when Walt Disney portrayed his skills as a servant leader is when "Mrs. Travers demanded that no red colors should be used in the movies; Disney relented because the making of the film and telling of the story was more important". Therefore, a servant leader should place the mission of their organizations above their personal preferences

Based on the film, Mrs. Travers is one of the most challenging characters in the movie she complained almost about everything and was looking for excuses not to agree to make the film. She was also adamant and never willing to let go of the past, for example, she gives a story of how his father died when she was at the age of 14 and how trying it was to handle the death of his father. Her leadership style does not entail the servant leader's behaviors. She always wants people to do things her way. An example from the film is when she stopped Disney to use the red color for the movie (Sue Smith, 2013). However, her leadership was courageous, When Mrs. Travers gave the childhood story resistance melts away, and she learnt how to let off the past pains, leaders should not underestimate the power of crisis. Therefore, she is not a servant leader as she brings her emotion on her duties and only thinks of her past like which are not characteristics of a good leader.

Leadership Styles of the Supporting Characters

Ralph (The Driver)

Ralph is the chauffeur who drives Travers in the movie Saving Mr. Bank. He portrays the characters of a servant leader through his daring courage to befriend Mary Poppins. This character explains him as a server leader because a leader will try to achieve even the impossible despite the challenges (Blanchard, & Broadwell, 2018). He also has the qualities of a servant leader since him proud of his work as a driver, and this is portrayed when he took a tricky move in Disneyland on camera to show his skills and was proud of what he did. However, he took the trick manoeuvre to make people proud of what he does despite knowing that it was risky which a character of a servant leader is. He also shows his leadership skills when he repaired the old car to be used in the film despite knowing that old cars engine can fail to start. Therefore, Ralph was creative and committed to improving the quality of the car, which also portrays his qualities as a servant leader. Ralph's conversation with Travers also displays the different outlooks or opinions about the world leaders ought to have, "The rain brings life." "So does the sun." he is focused and thinks of today as a servant leader should which is seen in him through his conversation with Travers when he told him that "You can worry about the future, but you can't do that. Only today(Kelly, 2003)." Through his servant leadership behaviors, Ralph can overcome the challenges of criticism is through empathy, listening carefully, and his willingness and love for his work.

Forgiveness & Servant Leadership

Forgiveness is a characteristic of servant leadership; a servant leader behavior should include forgiveness. Therefore forgiving enable servant leaders to be more refined and create strong relationships with people. According to Robert Greenleaf, the will to pursue reconciliation, the purpose of forgiving and seeking forgiveness are significant aspects of developing servant leadership (McCullough, & Worthington Jr, 1994). The film Saving Mr. Banks have various incidences that talk about forgiveness. For example, the movie talks about how Travers never had a good relationship with her father and the painful scars from her past that have made her unable to forgive her. From this example, we learn that we should forgive so that we can be able to move on and forget our painful past (Lord, & Brown, 2003). Also from the movie, we learn that Travers and Disney taught each other hoe\w to forgive and deal with their childhood traumas, he even asked her to forgive her father who was an alcoholic and never expressed his love to his family. Therefore we learn that we should learn to forgive ourselves and others and never to let our past determine our future (Ferch, & Mitchell, 2001). Finally, Walt Disney concludes by stating: "No... It will help if you forgive. Life is a harsh sentence to lay down for yourself." The statement implied that the Travers should learn to forgive her and forget that her father was an alcoholic. Therefore, the film Saving Mr. Banks is about the need to find forgiveness for the painful past burdens of the past. Therefore, forgiveness is vital to the servant-leader, since it develops the connections and conveys out the best in leaders and people. The act of pardoning helps take away bitterness when wronged. Generally, it creates the ability of human beings to change a person's past attitude toward a person, situation, or an event.

References

Blanchard, K., & Broadwell, R. (2018). Servant Leadership in Action: How You Can Achieve Great Relationships and Results. Oakland: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1022789029

Ferch, S. R., & Mitchell, M. M. (2001). Intentional forgiveness in relational leadership: A technique for enhancing effective leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies, 7(4), 70-83. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F107179190100700406

Greenleaf, R. K., In Spears, L. C., Covey, S. R., & Senge, P. M. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. New York: Paulist Press. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1011611312

Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith. Saving Mr. Banks 2013. https://twitter.com/disneypictures

Lord, R. G., & Brown, D. J. (2003). Leadership processes and follower self-identity. Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410608864

McCullough, M. E., & Worthington Jr, E. L. (1994). Encouraging clients to forgive people who have hurt them: Review, critique, and research prospectus. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 22(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F009164719402200101

Saving Mr. Banks Offi Roberts, G. E. (2014). Servant leader human resource management: A moral and spiritual perspective. New York : Palgrave Macmillan, [2014] http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/891961609cial Trailer(2013).

Sendjaya, S., & Sarros, J. C. (2002). Servant leadership: Its origin, development, and application in organizations. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 9(2), 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F107179190200900205

Walt Disney Pictures, Ruby Films, Essential Media & Entertainment, in association with BBC Films and Hopscotch Features presents ; written by Kelly Marcel, Sue Smith; directed by John Lee Hancock; produced by Ian Collie, Alison Owen and Philip Steuer. (2014). Saving Mr. Banks. Burbank, CA :Buena Vista Home Entertainment, https://briandoddonleadership.com/2013/12/21/25-leadership-quotes-and-lessons-from-saving-mr-banks/