Brian's Song Movie Theme

In the late 1960s just as racial tension was being resolved and the Civil Rights Movement was coming to a close, Gale Sayers, a shy African-American running back, joined the Chicago Bears football team. He and Brian Piccolo, an egotistical Caucasian teammate who comped for the same position, roomed together. Although they didn’t get along at first, they managed to work through their differences and developed a strong friendship. One theme in the movie Brian’s Song is the importance of relationships which is displayed through Brian and Gale’s friendship, relationships with their families, and their relationship with the their team. First, the importance of relationships is expressed through Brian and Gale’s friendship. When Brian and Gale …show more content…
The team, especially Brian and Gale, engaged in some friendly competition which pushed them to become better athletes when they pushed one another to their limits. As Brian began to feel more ill after what had just started as a cough became more, it was his coaches that urged him to see a doctor which potentially saved him much pain and suffering. When Brian was diagnosed, the team’s care and support for him didn't falter. They banded together and made sure to visit him in the hospital; when his teammates and coaches came into his room, Brian’s mood brightened and they even laughed around with each other. His team brought him happiness and hope that he would one day play football again. The team even dedicated a game to Brian. They rallied around Gale after he gave a wonderful dedication speech. Although the team lost the game, they played in Brian’s honor, and its the thought that counts. The team’s support for Brian didn't stop after his death; players continued to compete in his memory and Coach Halas ensured Joy would never see a single hospital bill by paying the hefty expenses himself. Brian’s relationship with his team carried him through the his fight against