The timing couldn’t be worse. A case of the chicken pox will keep Angelina Jolie from the premiere of “Unbroken”. The movie based on the novel “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand premieres Monday, December 15th in Los Angeles. Hillenbrand’s novel is a true story about the life of Louis Zamperini, who unfortunately passed away on July 2, 2014. Prior to his death, Jolie was able to give Zamperini a viewing of the movie before its final cut, watching it together in his hospital room. Jolie and Zamperini grew close during the filming of the movie, developing a friendship that Jolie will always treasure.
Recently, Jolie posted a video on Youtube explaining her impending absences. She states, “I just wanted to be clear and honest about why I will be missing the ‘Unbroken’ events in the next few days, which is that I found out last night that I have chickenpox.” In the video, plain faced Jolie sporting a simple white tank top, with pox marks clearly seen on her face, neck, chest, and shoulders, expresses her disappointment. She also shares that Brad and their children will be attending the movie events as planned, but she will be home itching and generally being uncomfortable. After having worked on the movie for the past 2 years, this turn of events is obviously not what she envisioned.
Jolie worked hard to create the movie version of Hillenbrand’s novel “Unbroken” as a realistic and accurate depiction of Louie Zamperini’s life. To those of you unfamiliar with his story, be prepared for an amazing tale of survival and redemption. One of the most heroic examples is Zamperini’s experiences during WWII. Zamperini and his crewmates, Allen Phillips and Francis McNarmara, endure 46 days at sea drifting 2,000 miles into enemy territory after their B-24 bomber, the Green Hornet, crashes into the Pacific Ocean during a rescue mission. The men survive shark attacks, dehydration, starvation, and Japanese aerial attacks only to be captured and tortured in Japanese prison camps for 2 years. Their rescue finally came after World War II ended when Japan surrender on September 2, 1945. Zamperini and his follow POWs suffered unimaginable torture during their years as prisoners causing them much anguish after returning to America to rebuild their lives. The physical and psychological torture inflected on Zamperini plagued him for many years after the war ended. Haunted by flashbacks of his Japanese torturers, mainly a guard nicknamed the Bird, Zamperini had to overcome the self-destructive behaviors he developed to deal with his demons. “Unbroken” is so much more than just a war story. If the movie stays true to the book, the audience will be taken on a journey through Zamperini’s childhood with his Italian-American family, his years as an Olympic runner, through World War II , and finally to the experiences that rescued him from a life of despair and anger. Zamperini’s fierce determination to survive is the exemplification of the strength of the human spirit and evidence of divine providence.
“Unbroken” will be released on December 25th, a perfect holiday gift for all. I’m hopeful Angelina Jolie will not disappoint with this interpretation of Louis Zamperini’s life story. Rest in peace Louis Zamperini, you and the other POWs will not be forgotten.
