Jean-Claude Van Damme, the “Muscles From Brussels”, bares his soul and saves dogs
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
The artist, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, believes the world needs more heroes, which is why he covered a Barcelona Beach with the likeness of Barack Obama. T.K.V. Krishnamacarya , the late Indian scholar and yoga teacher, also believes that you can overcome the obstacles in your own life by considering and modeling the lives of people you respect and admire.
Movie stars can be heroes, too. Always a slippery slope, the business of becoming, staying – and leaving - stardom takes more than just talent. Yet, many have risen and are rising to the occassion, following not just fame, but their own hearts, heads and conscience.
Martial Artist and film action hero, Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself in the recent release of JCVD, portraying the rise and fall of his career. The movie was filmed in Bangkok, where Mr. Van Damme adopted seven stray dogs by the film’s completion – some of them disabled. In fact, he prolonged his stay when one of the dogs had a heart attack, sleeping with him in the clinic every night to help give him the will to live. For another, he built a “wheelchair”. The dogs have been sent to his home in Brussels.
The movie includes a 6-minute monologue in which he reflectives openly and emotionally about his life, career, dreams and failures.
He emphasizes the change in himself and the importance of personal stability. In his next film, will move on to writing, directing and producing, as well as acting. As he reclaims his career he wants to be seen as “an action character hero instead of an action star.”
Good enough for me. See you in the theatre.
Tags: animal rescue, Jean-Claude Van Damme, movies
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