In one of his perhaps slightly less well known films, "Jack", Robin Williams played a boy (called Jack) who suffered with a medical condition which caused him to age at four times the rate of 'normal' people.
For the majority of the film, we follow Jack when he is ten years old (played by Williams, as he has aged as if he is 40 years old), and in particular his trials and tribulations as he attends school for the first time (having been home schooled up to that point - his tutor being played by Bill Cosby). As with so many of Robin Williams' films, there are lots of laughs along the way.
Then, at the end of the film we fast forward eight years to Jack's graduation from school, and he is chosen to deliver the valedictorian speech. By this point in his life he is inhabiting the body of a 72 year-old man.
When the film came out almost twenty years ago, the speech seemed to be pretty good, and was a nice way to round out the film and draw the story to a close.
"I don't have very much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, "What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?" But I say to you, "Hey, look at me!"
So far, so good. Pretty appropriate for a graduation speech, and rather touching in the film. But then, here comes the kicker. Knowing what we know now, and the immense loss of a life the ended too soon, and yet a life that touched millions - knowing that, even if he was in character, Robin spoke the following words - it simply knocks the breath clean out of you.
Please don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day ... make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did."
And all I can think are these three things:
- Yes, Robin, you sure did!
- Don't we all owe it to each other to try to be a little bit spectacular in the best way we can.
- Wouldn't it have been lovely if he could have stuck around a little bit longer.