07/07/2025

MONDAY | JULY 7, 2025

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Beyond the checkered flag L ET us be clear – Cinema at its commercial core is just a movie. It is fiction born from imagination, designed to make profits soar. This remains the fundamental reality of movies made for the masses. This core message resonates widely. Social media posts highlight it, with one user noting: “It’s about chasing what sets your soul on fire. Follow the passion and happiness; peace and purpose will follow you.”

Another review reminds us of the practical truth: “You’re not going to last in any profession if you are in it only for the fame and money.” Do I agree? Absolutely! This lesson is compelling and aligns with real-world wisdom. Passion driven pursuits often unlock a deeper, more enduring satisfaction than the pursuit of fleeting rewards, though the film’s characteristic Hollywood gloss tangible, daily struggles inherent in making such a choice. Closely intertwined is the theme of second chances and resilience. Hayes’ comeback is monumental, occurring decades after a near fatal crash decades ago. His return to the track at 61 (which is Pitt’s real age) despite his advanced years for a racer and the weight of past trauma, powerfully illustrates that it is never too late to reclaim your path. The broader narrative of the underdog team battling against overwhelming odds reinforces this message of perseverance. As one review aptly summarised, the film tackles “second chances, ego, legacy and teamwork”. The underlying idea that setbacks do not define us and that resilience paves the road to redemption, is undeniably universal and deeply felt. The film also meticulously integrates the indispensable lesson that ”teamwork makes the dream work”. A pivotal scene features Hayes delivering a rousing speech, emphasising how every crew member’s seemingly minor contribution like shaving half a second off a pit stop, for instance, is the crucial difference between a last-place team and a winner. This powerfully champions the value of collective effort over individual heroics. Hayes evolves, mentoring the raw rookie Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris and collaborating with the entire crew to defy expectations. This focus on collaboration is a strong lesson that will resonate with each of us in different ways, particularly relevant in high-stakes environments like elite sports or businesses. Given the film’s grounding in real F1 dynamics, the emphasis on teamwork feels genuine, even if some purists argue the depicted inevitably simplifies the and thought. We encourage you to take a moment and reflect on how feedback is essential in your life. There is an expression, “feedback is a gift”. However, organisations do pay for it. Companies and other organisations seek feedback to improve their services, identify new opportunities to maximise their potential and remain competitive in the market. The survey industry is massive, offering in-depth analysis across various sectors. If large organisations find value in feedback, so should we. Feedback is defined by Dr Margeret Bearman of Deakin University in Australia and colleagues as a “dynamic and co-constructive interaction in the context of a safe and mutually respectful relationship, aimed at challenging a learner’s (and educator’s) ways of thinking, acting or being to support growth”. There are numerous benefits to giving structured, effective feedback. Studies have shown that effective feedback improves performance, motivation of learners and

Yet, as someone inclined towards the literary, I find myself compelled to look past the spectacle, to delve into the lessons and messages directors weave into their narratives. Films exist on a spectrum – some captivate utterly, holding you immersed to your seat while others provoke only cringing regret for the precious time squandered.

Brad Pitt’s F1 , released recently, firmly belongs to the former category. This is noteworthy, especially as I am not typically a devotee of racing films. At its heart, F1 is a sports drama but its true engine lies in the life lessons complicatedly spread through its narrative and characters. Central to this is Sonny Hayes, the veteran racer portrayed by Pitt and his journey with the fictional, struggling team. Hayes enters the scene as a figure viewed by the racing fraternity as weathered and withered. He arrives armed with little more than raw guts and immense, perhaps defiant, confidence. His drive, however, stems from a shadowy past that relentlessly haunts him. Before exploring the substance I took from the film, my standard disclaimer applies, that this is not a conventional movie review. It is my personal reception, focusing on the resonant themes I carried home from the movie. F1 conveys several potent life lessons. Foremost among them is the imperative of pursuing passion over fame or money. The film persistently circles a fundamental, often uncomfortable, question: If not for money, then what? Wisely, it leaves this query ambiguous, offering no single answer, thereby inviting each viewer to respond based on their own philosophy of life. The narrative emphatically argues that lasting fulfilment springs not from chasing external rewards but rather from dedicating oneself to what truly ignites the soul. Hayes embodies this principle. A retired driver returning after a staggering thirty-year absence, he races not for renewed glory but to rediscover his purpose and lift his beleaguered team. A RENOWNED corporate figure shared an early experience as a young executive in Southeast Asia. He was working night and day on a report. Upon presentation, his manager was unimpressed with his work. To drive his point, the manager went on to hit his colleague on the head with the printed report. The young executive received the word. He acted and made alterations to the report. Despite being a less-than-ideal form of feedback, it became a positive growth experience for the executive who went on to lead a major multinational organisation. We all have similar stories, perhaps less or even more dramatic, throughout our personal, educational and professional development. We are all involved in growing others – as parents, siblings, colleagues and as educators. As the world around us evolves, generally for the better, so should our way of providing feedback. Many of us have not been trained on providing and receiving feedback or even having considered it a skill that requires time

At its heart, F1 is a sports drama but its true engine lies in the life lessons complicatedly spread through its narrative and characters. – REUTERSPIC

the star, pushing himself and his machine to the absolute limit. It is a compelling image, yet understanding the “peace” he describes while operating at such an extreme intensity remains challenging. This notion intriguingly reflects Pitt’s own comments about finding refuge from relentless tabloid scrutiny while immersed in filming F1 . The film suggests that the act of passionately pursuing what you love can itself become a sanctuary, offering solace even when the external world feels overwhelming. Finally, the film explores mentorship and passing the torch. The dynamics between Hayes and Pearce evolves significantly, shifting from initial rivalry towards meaningful mentorship. This transition highlights the critical importance of guiding and investing in the next generation. Movies are a mirror of life, reflecting our dreams, struggles and truths in a frame of fiction. DrBhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in counselling. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com learners’ stated goals. For feedback to be effective, a collaborative partnership should be formed, moving away from a more directive, unilateral interaction. Using our earlier scenario as an example, the executive seeks feedback from his manager. The manager arranges a private meeting over coffee at his office. He requests a self-appraisal from the executive: “How do you think it went?” and “How do you think it can be better?” After the appraisal, he provides direct feedback on the work. Words of affirmation, like “I appreciate this is new to you” or “this is how this can be done better next time”, are used. They agree on a plan of action to improve the quality of the executive’s reports. In a world that has advanced in many ways, we can all be agents of change by being more deliberate and conscious of the feedback we provide and receive. We should strive to add value to the way we communicate and improve one another. We can make society better one constructive feedback at a time. DrAhmad Hairi Halimi , Dr Ricardo Esper Trem l and Prof Pedro Tanaka are from Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

racing strategies venture into “dangerous” and unrealistic territory. Learning from mistakes is another key thread, though perhaps not explored in exhaustive depth. Pitt himself, reflecting on the film’s themes, stated in an interview: “No matter the mistake, you learn from it and move on, and it’ll lead to the next success.” This philosophy manifests on screen. Hayes’ instinctive, sometimes unorthodox strategies like switching tyres against the team’s explicit plan, occasionally do backfire. However, these moments ultimately become catalysts for teaching the team adaptability and the value of trusting seasoned intuition. The recognition that mistakes are inevitable and should be viewed as essential stepping stones rather than catastrophic failures is a powerful and necessary mindset. A more nuanced, almost abstract lesson emerges around finding peace within chaos, which was my personal favourite. Hayes speaks of discovering a profound “peacefulness in the car” amidst the sensory overload of racing and the tumult of his personal life. This concept reaches its visual peak during the climactic final race, where Hayes becomes teamwork. Most importantly, it improves the experience of both the learner and the teacher. Feedback, when done effectively, can be transformed from an often dreaded experience for both parties into a positive one. Several methods or structures can be used for feedback. In medical education, one example is through ARTful feedback – ask, respond and tell. The learner’s learning goals should be established. In “ask”, the learner is asked for a self-appraisal of the experience. In response, the teacher constructively responds to the learner’s comments. Powerful phrases, such as “that would have been difficult for anyone” or “let’s work on this together,” can further enhance the learning experience. “Tell” is when the teacher provides feedback on various aspects of the encounter to the learner. This can encompass scenarios, behaviours and technical skills. For effective feedback, there should be a shift in paradigm between the teacher and the learner. Learners are encouraged to take ownership by initiating and driving the feedback process. Feedback should be valued as an essential part of growth through change and action, not a process that has to be endured as is. As a teacher, it should be learner-centred, aiming to meet the

Harnessing power of feedback as catalyst for growth

COMMENT by Dr Ahmad Hairi Halimi, Dr Ricardo Esper Treml and Prof Pedro Tanaka