1999’s Star Wars The Phantom Menace was not without its share of critics, but it has since gotten its flowers along with the rest of the Prequels and particularly panned aspects of them. Going to see this movie is one of my earliest memories and it was the first movie I ever saw in theaters. I wasn’t even 4 years old yet and I was with my mom, dad, and brother (more on them later) when we went to the AMC at Ridgepark Square in Brooklyn, Ohio. To this day I still make a point to see any new Star Wars movie in that exact theater.
Anakin Skywalker has just sped through the finish line at the Boonta Eve Classic Pod Race and snatched victory from the clutches of a particularly dangerous Dug, Sabulba. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn’s gamble on the young boy’s freedom paid off, though admittedly he did have the force on his side. Unfortunately for Anakin no pod is worth two slaves, so while Anakin gets to fly away with Qui-Gon and live his dream of being a Jedi, his mother Shmi, must stay behind on Tatooine.
Anakin packs his effects, bidding a temporary goodbye to C3-PO as Qui-Gon shares an earnest farewell with Shmi. They exit the Skywalker homestead and as the two walk away, Anakin stops. He turns towards his future in Qui-Gon and back and his mother, his past. He runs to his mother for one final embrace.
“I can’t do it, mom. I just can’t do it. Will I ever see you again?”
“What does your heart tell you?”
“I hope so. Yes, I guess.”
“Then we will see each other.”
“I will come back and free you, mom. I promise.”
“Now, be brave. And don’t look back. Don’t look back”
Anakin shoulders his back and returns to Qui-Gon’s side, leaving his mother and the harsh life on Tatooine behind - at least for now. In case you haven’t seen it recently, check it out below then swiftly go rewatch the Phantom Menace.
This scene is absolutely beautiful and is my pick for the most relatable scene in the chronological first installment of the Skywalker Saga. Jake Lloyd does a spectacular job balancing eagerness and sadness in his farewell, and Pernilla August nails the sadness in watching her only son leave home, but supporting his dream nevertheless. Liam Neeson hasn’t much to do in this scene, but his stoicism and patience in allowing Anakin this small moment is touching and is built up in the scenes prior to this where we see his connection to Anakin. If this were any other Jedi they’d have been long gone by now. I also always got the sense he and Shmi had a connection as well. But the cherry on top is John Williams’ score. The Force Theme plays of course, though differing from its hopeful debut in A New Hope - it sounds almost sad and tragic. Fitting for the Chosen One. The music crescendos into a more triumphant tone as he rejoins Qui-Gon.
As we all grow old, there comes a time when we all leave home for the first time which can be terrifying. This particular scene resonates with me because it reminds me of my first time leaving home. It was August 2014 and I’d just said goodbye to my High School sweetheart the day before. My immediate family was seeing me off at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as I prepared to depart for Basic Training. I hugged my brother- “don’t do anything stupid ‘till I get back,” I said. “How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you.” Side note, I’m a huge Captain America fan and we actually have mirroring Cap and Winter Soldier tattoos. I embraced my dad who said “don’t hesitate” - he’s a pilot and I grew up watching Top Gun with him. Then my mother dropped her enduring advice she always gave to my brothers and I growing up: “be fearless.” We repeated this goodbye practically verbatim when I departed for my deployment overseas two years later in 2016.
The older I get, the more this scene just gets to me! 25 years later my mom and my brothers returned to theaters to see the Phantom Menace during its rerelease in early 2024. This time, we were joined by my younger brother who, being born in 2011, was obviously not alive during the original release. Lightsabers in tow, we took our glamor shots in front of the theater’s facade. As the Force would have it, not only was this movie my younger brother’s first Star Wars movie in theaters, but like me it was his first movie in a movie theater ever. I find it more and more particularly poignant that the first movie I ever saw with my family is also so connected to the moments I shared with them later in life.
What's your pick for the most relatable scene from Phantom Menace? Stay tuned here at the Spaceport as we look ahead to the most relatable scene rom Attack of the Clone and as always, let us know if there's something you'd like to see from the Spaceport!