5. Deliverance

5. Deliverance

Previous Next

Cast & Crew

  • John Boorman
  • Jon Voight
  • Burt Reynolds
  • Ned Beatty
  • Ronny Cox

Tweet This

Add your tweet

Memorable Quote

“Sometimes you have to lose yourself 'fore you can find anything.”


Manly Moral

Progress leaves man's nature untouched.

Why it's for men only

Civilization is a front. In our hearts, all men crave the opportunity to demonstrate our self-reliance, independence and courage. Each of us seeks out the chance to prove that we can dictate the terms of our survival; we aim to prove that we're not reliant upon the modern luxuries we choose to accept. Deliverance is a film that illustrates the risks associated with charging into strange territory and stripping away the luxuries. The film also makes the point that respecting one’s environment is more important than controlling it.

On the surface, the film makes an obvious statement that concrete and steel are washing away nature and our heritage as men. In making this case, Boorman argues that it is our ability to understand how we work together as men that is timeless, and this strength allows us to triumph over adversity, whether in the backwoods or the city streets. As Burt Reynolds' Lewis says: “Sometimes you have to lose yourself 'fore you can find anything.”

More about Deliverance