From Lion King to Lionhood: A New Chapter for the “I Am What I Am”
“Laughing, I burst out of the door; how could I be a nobody?” While the first installment echoed the journey of The Lion King, the sequel, I Am What I Am 2, truly embodies the spirit of collective heroism.
I Am What I Am 2 Poster
Redefining Heroism: Beyond Individual Glory
In the first film, the “lion-youth” concept felt somewhat disjointed. The red “lion” consistently overcame adversity, turning every sunset into a sunrise, finding brilliance even in the narrowest of cracks. However, the “youths” without the lion head, often depicted in rainy scenes, were shrouded in an inescapable gloom. Steering clear of fairy-tale tropes, the “hero flower” served as a symbol, not a money-making scheme; it ignited the roar within the boys, but not as a magical cure for their father’s ailment. The separation of the lion head from the youth at the end, along with the fallen “hero flower,” created anticipation for a sequel that would forge a new “hero-youth” narrative.
From Acclaim to the Streets
The second film subverts expectations right from the start, depicting the celebrated lion dance team from the first movie “willingly” transitioning into street performers, hustling for a living. This approach is valuable because it demonstrates that while faith shines brightly in the spotlight, it remains untarnished by the grit and grime of everyday life.
I Am What I Am 2 Still
The Lion in the Weeds: A Collective Identity
In contrast to the Lion King-esque logic of the first film, where the lion triumphs under the setting sun, the sequel presents an alternative: the lion hides behind the weeds. For the most part, the youths are simply weeds: resilient, growing freely, yet often regrettably flattened by overwhelming forces. But where is the lion? It can be argued that the lion is not separate from the weeds, but rather another facet woven from the weeds themselves. The lion that is ultimately summoned does not belong to just “one” youth; it is formed from the intertwining of heritage, perseverance, dedication to truth – from countless blades of grass.
We have witnessed countless stories of heroes forged through hardship, and an endless stream of predictable “heroic rescues.” However, it is only when the decisive, game-changing move transcends individual heroism that “Lionhood” truly becomes a collective noun.
