 The Bourne Identity
THE MYTH BEHIND THE MOVIE At first, The Bourne Identity seems just like any other Robert Ludlum thriller -- lots of violence and intrigue. An escape film. My first tendency is to suppose that such films are really little more than symptoms of social decadence -- with almost no redeeming value. But, thankfully, I think I have grown beyond such immature judgmentalism. Time magazine actually goes so far as to praise the film for being an "escapist fantasy that is as weightless and inconsequential as a musical." So, if you enjoy thrillers -- pure escapist action films -- I can recommend this one as definitely above average for the genre. After all, Ludlum is an intelligent writer. And Matt Damon is an exciting actor. Franka Potente adds an alluring romantic element to the film. I disagree, however, with the premise that the film is "weightless and inconsequential." I'm not sure any movie ever is.
There is the background theme of the Central Intelligence Agency operating at an almost-peak level of efficiency. Through the effective use of computer databases, the CIA operatives in this film are only minutes behind the action -- even though it is taking place thousands of miles away. Of course, minutes behind -- while impressive -- is not close enough. But, the suggestion is that our present technology offers such capability to those who would spy upon us. Somehow, I doubt that the CIA can access my telephone records from years ago -- but perhaps I am simply naive. The key to this whole movie centers on the question of amnesia. Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon,is a CIA agent who has lost all memory concerning his personal identity. He does not even realize that he has been working for the CIA -- although he audience knows this. The motivating force for Bourne, throughout the film, is simply to discover who he is. Interestingly, this theme is one that has profound mythological overtones. One might even say that the search for self-knowledge is the grand theme of all literature and poetry. We all enter into this world without any memory of a previous existence. And we sometimes discover within ourselves, just as Bourne does, that we possess strange talents whose origins are mysterious to us. Ultimately, we are each also motivated to understand our true purpose, our origin and our destiny. The mystical literature suggests that we are playing hide and seek with ourselves. (The question, "Why am I me and not someone else?" for example, served as an inspiration for my first book, The Roots of Consciousness, originally published in 1975.) Sadly, Bourne comes to he conclusion that he has been an assassin. In spite of this, he film portrays him as an individual who clearly intends to do good. Oddly enough, while we are not all assassins, we all have wished death upon another -- at least subconsciously. I surmise that Bourne was programmed by the CIA to lose his memory should he ever decide to renege on his commitment to the life of a hired killer. As such, the character earns our sympathy. There is an ironic, even a spiritual, sense in which this exotic secret agent actually represents every man. There is a sense in which we have all forgotten who we really are. Only in dreams do we sometimes glimpse the truth. While this is not a philosophical movie, it does afford some food for thought. That, ultimately I believe, is the film's deeper appeal. |
