The Terminal, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, conveys many different aspects of interpersonal communication. Throughout the film, there is constant conversation, gestures, and other forms of communication. As expected, there are also many complications that get in the way of the communication.
From the beginning of the film, Tom Hanks’ character is displayed as a clueless foreigner who knows very little English. In basic types of communication, a conversation for example, two people speak a common language. However, if the other person cannot understand the speaker’s spoken words, then the conversation is pointless. Similar to the communication method stated above, the Linear Communication Method was also used in The Terminal. The Linear Method is not an open conversation. Instead, it only calls for a speaker and a listener or receiver.
This method was conveyed many times throughout the film. It was especially important when Tom Hanks’ character receives the news that his country was crumbling apart.According to our text, a man may go crazy if there is no personal communication for a various amount of time. Though Tom Hanks’ character does not literally go insane, the audience quickly realizes the frustration among his situation, as he has to live in a foreign world.
The audience can come to the conclusion that the main character is an innocent and nice man who simply does not understand how to live among Americans.The character’s level of self-esteem quickly falls to the bottom line and the public people continue to hate and discriminate against him simply because he is not an American. However, he makes a few friends that work in the airport. In my opinion, the people who do not personally know the main character see him as a dumb foreigner. This is an example of the very popular stereotyping. The public often sees confused tourists or foreigners as inferior to themselves.
As a result, the tourists are treated with less respect or dignity. As discussed in the course text, we must check our perception of people in order to avoid stereotyping. If many people checked their perception of Tom Hanks’ character, I think they would have understood his background and culture and treat him much better.Emotions played a major role throughout the film.
There was a lot of sadness, frustration, and fear, but on the other hand, there was also a very happy ending. When the main character realizes he is aloud out of the airport terminal, he is instantly happy and grateful. He shows this emotion non-verbally by smiling and non-verbally by singing and making a toast in the airport’s Russian pub.I can closely relate to how Tom Hanks’ character felt throughout much of the film; the language barrier was very difficult to overcome.
When I went to Germany a few years ago with my family, I was the only child in the family that did not know any German. I felt very left out. However, I still had the non-verbal communication that allowed me to connect to some of the German-speaking people. I do not know what I would have done if I was by myself in Germany without any help.
On the flip side, I am very glad I went because it made me realize how everyone in the entire world is different somehow.
