New Feature: Expat Films

As I was writing the series of posts on “What Kind of Expat Are You?” I thought it might be fun to look at some expats as portrayed in books and movies. I’ll try to do these once a month. Movies will be around the 15th of each month, and books around the 1st.

We’ll look at some new releases, as well as some older ones, classic literary fiction as well as biography, mystery, science fiction — in short, anything with an expat theme.

So, without further ado, here is our first feature in the Expat Films category. Popcorn’s on you.

Star Wars: The Ultimate Expat Adventurer Movie

Star Wars an expat film? You betcha!

Our young hero, Luke Skywalker, lives on the desert planet Tatooine with his aunt and uncle. Luke’s father was killed by Darth Vader, the evil emperor’s right-hand man. . . er, borg. There’s no mention of his mother. Luke wants to leave the farm to attend the Academy, but Uncle Owen insists he has to stay for one more season.

Luke’s Uncle Owen buys two droids, R2D2 and 3CPO, to help on the farm. Unbeknownst to the family, the droids had escaped from a spaceship while it was under attack by Vader, and they’re looking for help to overthrow the Emperor.

Luke tells 3CPO that Tatooine is the planet “farthest from the bright center of the universe.”

A few scenes later, Luke has met up with Obi Wan (Ben) Kenobe, a Jedi Master who lives nearby and for whom R2D2 carries a secret message from Princess Leia. Ben invites Luke to come with him to the planet Alderan. At first, Luke refuses because, “it’s such a long way from here.” Later, after returning home and finding the farm destroyed and his aunt and uncle dead, Luke tells Ben,

“I want to come with you to Alderan. There’s nothing for me here now. . . I’m never coming back to this planet again.”

Luke, with the help of Obi Wan, Princess Leia, smuggler Han Solo and his Wookie first mate Chewbacca, ends up destroying the Empire’s most formidable weapon, the Death Star while sending Darth Vader spinning out of control in his fighter into the galaxy somewhere.

In a ceremony complete with stirring music by John Williams and some winks from Princess Leia, Luke and Han receive medals for their efforts and are fully accepted into the Rebel community.

Now, if that’s not an expat story, what is?

Do you have a favorite expat movie you’d like us to discuss? Click on the comment link below to suggest it. Add your comments, observations and ideas by clicking the comment link below.