It was one of the movies that I had always admired. It
was shown in Doordarshan in the late eighties. The plot was remarkable and it
got etched in my mind. Alas long time delay meant that I forgot the title. But
the story line was fresh in the mind. Google search helped in zeroing on to the
movie title - Baby boom. I will definitely watch it again and would make my MBA students
watch it too. Useful for classes of Entrepreneurship, leadership, fight against
adversity, women empowerment, risk management and even about work life
balance. I would recommend Baby Boom to
lift you out of that terrible depression that might strike at any point of
time. It will put a smile on your face and yes in your heart too!
Baby boom
(1987): J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) is
a driven career woman (nicknamed the "Tiger Lady") whose fast-paced
life leaves her with no time for romance or relaxation, though she derives
pleasure from her frantic schedule and demanding job. She works as a management
consultant and lives with an investment banker, whose job and life are likewise
hectic. Her life is thrown into turmoil when she inherits a toddler, Elizabeth
(twins Kristina and Michelle Kennedy), from a deceased cousin.
Caring for the child soon occupies much of her
time and her business career begins to suffer, culminating in the loss of her
boyfriend and job. Wiatt tries to give Elizabeth up for adoption but finds that
she has grown too attached to the child, forcing a reevaluation of her
priorities. She moves into a house in the country. Purchasing the home without
first having seen it in person or having it inspected she finds it is riddled
with problems (failing plumbing and heating, lack of water, bad roof).
Suffering a nervous breakdown and on the brink of
financial collapse, she sees an opportunity to sell baby food applesauce she
had concocted for Elizabeth from fresh ingredients. Amid the clamor for her new
products she develops a relationship with local veterinarian Jeff Cooper At
first annoyed by him, she is opposed to Jeff's overtures and is focused now on
as fast as possible to return to New York. Finding a buyer for the house proves
almost impossible.
After a rough start she succeeds in selling
"Country Baby", her gourmet baby food, and soon business is booming.
Finally, her old boss and his client take notice. They offer to buy her company
for millions, take her product nationwide, and give her back her career and
high-prestige life. On the brink of accepting, she decides that she can grow
her enterprise on her own without having to sacrifice her personal life. She
returns to Vermont and the arms of her new lover and adopted daughter.
Another movie, I thoroughly
enjoyed watching on Doordarshan was Pentagon wars. It is a great movie about
product development and about governmental bureaucracy. Made for great viewing.
Lots of information delivered in a very satirical fashion
Pentagon
wars (1998): The
story itself the crazy process whereby a simple request for an improved armored
personnel carrier for the US army resulted in the ridiculous initial design for
the Bradley transport is one that should be well-known. It is the ultimate
cautionary tale about a bureaucracy gone out of control. It is amazing to see the
light-handed skill with which the story is told. It is funny when it should be,
yet interest you sufficiently to get you really mad at what is going on and the
cover up operation.
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