Abstract
This paper describes how Hollywood movies can be used in the classroom to exemplify business ethics, customer service, gaol achievements, etc. The movie selected for this paper is “The Terminal”, directed by Steven Spielberg.
Itroduction:
The Terminal is a soft comedy movie directed by Steven Spielberg, it revolves around an eastern European man (Victor Navorski) whose plans of visiting New York on achieving a small goal, were shattered because of the conditions that took place in his home country when he is en-route to New York. During his journey some rebel groups take over the government of his country, Krakozhia, and the newly formed ruling body is not recognized by the U.S. His passport was issued for a country, which during his upheaval ceased to exist officially.
Unauthorized to leave JFK airport upon his arrival and unable to return home, Viktor finds himself exiled inside the terminal’s international lounge.
Though Customs and Borders protection head at the JFK airport, Frank Dixon sees Viktor as an annoying bureaucratic glitch, other airport employees come to see him as a welcome, if unofficial, addition to their members. Dixon tries to get rid of Viktor from the airport, and hints at escaping through the doors when the guards change their shifts, but Viktor is reluctant to do that and he wants to leave the airport and step outside only when he is officially given the admission to the U.S. Dixon, who desperately waits for his own promotion wants the removal of Viktor from the terminal by any means and wants his exit from the airport and get Viktor arrested and then the situation be someone else’s problem.
It needs to be realized that despite an undertone of whimsicality and the subtle comedy of Viktor, his situation carries significant emotional weight. It’s a feeling of complete dislocation and vulnerability when he learns that his country is in flames, seeing on the TV. Yet he gets the hang of it, and figures out how to eat, where to sleep, make himself comfortable and how to amuse himself in an inhospitable environment.
As the days stretch on into months, the terminal transforms itself from an intimidating atmosphere into a country within itself, complete with culture, ambition, status, complex diversity, and the need for love.
During his nine month wait in the airport terminal, Viktor was always optimistic making several attempts to get permission to enter the US main land, but was rejected all the time. He finds a way to make money out of no investment, by returning the carts to get the quarters from the machine and thus buying food for himself. He also makes himself a comfortable sleeping bed using the seats at the abandoned Gate 66 at the terminal. Also with his carpentry skills he finds himself an off-the-books job earning $19/- an hour. He also befriends with the airport janitor (Gupta), a food serving worker (Enrique), a baggage carrying worker (Mulroy) and a flight attendant (Amelia).
Viktor is asked to interpret for a Russian man who carries undocumented drugs for his sick father. Viktor claims it is a “medicine for goat”, barring the drug from confiscation and resolving the crisis. Viktor sets a good example of crisis management here.
A few months later the war at Krakozhia ends and his country is recognized by the U.S. but the field commission officer Dixon doesn’t allow him to enter the U.S. but rather decides to send him back to his country. With the help of Amelia Viktor obtains permission to travel within the U.S. but Dixon doesn’t sign it to make it official. Instead he threatens to fire his friends from their employment at the air port if Viktor doesn’t go back. Viktor’s friend at the airport, Gupta runs in front of the plane and causes some delay thus allowing Viktor some time to go into the city. Wit the help of the rest of the airport security staff, Viktor finally gets out of the air port and goes into the city.
Viktor’s final achievement of his goal was to collect autograph from a Jazz musician in New York City, which was one of his late father’s ambitions. He was able to collect autographs from all but one musician who plays at a hotel in New York City. Viktor finally gets a chance to meet the musician and achieves his goal.
The story of the movie was believed to be based on the true story of an Iranian, Mehran Karimi Nasseri who was detained at the Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, France for about 17 years. Nasseri was expelled from Iran in 1977, applies for British citizenship claiming one of his parents was British but on his en-route to London his briefcase containing his papers was stolen in Paris. Despite his setback, he boarded the plane to London but was sent back to Paris. Since his entry to Paris was legal but he has no place to go and had no country of origin he remains in Paris air port at terminal 1. His story may have been the basis for the movie although it was not shown in the movie.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Tom Hanks – Viktor Navorski Catherine Zeta-Jones – Amelia Stanley Tucci – Frank Dixon
Writers: Andrew Niccol, Sacha Gervasi
Release Date: June 18, 2004
Business Concepts in the movie: 1. Customer Service 2. Crisis Management