"Cinderella Man"

Last night, I finally got to watch Cinderella Man... It was such a wonderful movie, and yet there were elements that I didn't particularly care for as well.
The boxing violence was... vivid. Well-shown, but I cringed as I watched.
The language was pretty terrible at times as well, which was disappointing, however accurate it may have been.

Yet, the element of this movie that captured my heart from the beginning was the strong family-ties present. From the start of the movie, their family's closeness and love for each other was evident. Jim Braddock's love for his family, their love for him... His desire to provide for them, his principled living, his wife's support of him...
It was so refreshing to watch, even as the hard times (and strength that shone through amid) brought tears to my eyes.

Mae's support for her husband, even though it hurt her to see him getting hurt, was something equally refreshing. After clashing with Jim over whether he should take the fight with Max Baer, with the high chances that he would be seriously hurt, she came in to talk to him before the fight. Her words of support and encouragement were so sweet to hear.

Maybe I understand, some, about having to fight. So you just remember who you are... you're the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey, you're everybody's hope, and the kids' hero, and you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock.
What man wouldn't be encouraged to know he had a woman like that loving and supporting him?

As I watched, I thought about how that's the sort of wife I desire to be... It wasn't that things were easy- Goodness, they were far from it at times! But she was committed to loving, cherishing, honoring, supporting her husband. And his commitment to her and the children was equally commendable.



All that to say- I enjoyed it immensely.