#FilmMorals: Valuable Life Lessons from Bohemian Rhapsody
About Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody is a biopic of Queen, their music and their lead singer Freddie Mercury, who went on to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the rise of the band through their songs and sound, their near-implosion as Mercury’s lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
Valuable Life Lessons from Bohemian Rhapsody
1. Disagreements make room for innovation
If you expect your team members to always agree with you, there is no space for development or creativity. After Freddie breaks off from Queen at the peak of the band’s popularity to pursue a solo career, he requests for a reunion with the old band. In the film, when asked what made him return, Freddie said, “The new band members did exactly what I asked them to do. I hate that. You guys, you don’t agree with me easily and we got better because of that.”
2. By making the first move, you can repair your shattered relationships
As mentioned before, in the film, Freddie breaks off from Queen at the peak of the band’s popularity to pursue a solo career, and it was to the dismay of his bandmates. At the same time, Freddie’s lifestyle spiraled out of control, which worsened the rift with his bandmates. Freddie promptly returns to the band after realizing his mistake, apologized profusely, made amends, and was welcomed back into the family with open arms. He saves the band and ensures his legacy in the process.
3. Authenticity roots from self-love
The lesson here is more profound than it appears – to love yourself is to accept. Facing severe controversy and alienation from family and the community after changing his name from Farrokh Bulsara and later on identifying as a homosexual, he still chose to live as his most authentic self and without compromise as Freddy Mercury. He overcame critiques by prioritizing originality and courage. When pointed out, “We can’t have a singer with front teeth like that!” Freddie clapped back saying, ”I can sing better because there’s more space inside my mouth.”
It’s easy to look at our own perceived “imperfections” or we can use those to our advantage.
4. Balance is key to sustainable success
It’s fairly obvious that Freddie was beyond successful and yet he still fell into unrestrained compulsive habits which ended up sabotaging his life. With that said, the key here is to have balance. In achieving a fulfilling life, there is a need to develop other aspects of life including health, family, friends and personal growth. Without these, life will sooner than later seem hollow and lose its meaning.
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