The Jerk

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The Text This Week:

The Jerk (1979)

Information at Internet Movie Database

Themes

Hopelessness, Disillusionment

I have used the movie "The Jerk" to talk about hopelessness. Toward the end of the movie the main character has lost everything that is important to him. He feels a failure and is in his home announcing that "I don't need you!" and preparing to leave. But before he leaves he starts a litany of sorts. "I don't need anything ... except this ashtray (picks up ashtray). I don't need anything except this ashtray and this remote (adds the remote)." He continues like this until his arms are full of useless things. It is a vision of utter hopelessness and he is reaching for something to hold onto and finding all the wrong things. I will often ask people, "what would you pick up if you lost all hope?" It leads into some more meaningful reflections. (submitted by Thomas Hay)

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