The Lord of the Rings I (2001) ENG

In this scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, we are not only told an epic legend; we are also confronted with a brutally human question: is it worth living forever if you are not free?

The Rings were created as powerful gifts for Elves, Dwarves, and Men, each one appealing to their deepest desires: wisdom, wealth, power. But Sauron, in secret, forges the One Ring, imbued not only with magic, but with his own will to dominate. Psychologically, this Ring functions as an extreme temptation: it promises control, greatness, and even a longer life… but in exchange, it steals who you are.

And this is where Gollum enters the story—the saddest and clearest example. Thanks to the Ring, he lives for 500 years, something that sounds incredible… until you see how he lives. He has no friends, no purpose, no peace. He hides in a cave, talks to himself, distrusts everything, and is completely obsessed. His entire world shrinks to a single thing: “my precious.” It’s like an eternal addiction. His body remains alive, yes, but his mind and his heart are trapped.

Here comes the psychological gut punch: Gollum gets what many people would dream of—a very long life—but he loses what matters most: freedom, identity, and the ability to enjoy life. He doesn’t live; he survives. He doesn’t choose; he obeys the Ring.

The scene leaves us with a powerful and very modern reflection:
what would you choose—living hundreds of years chained to an obsession, or a normal life with limits, but filled with your own choices, real relationships, and authentic moments?

At its core, the Ring isn’t just about magic. It’s about all those things that promise “more”—more power, more control, more security—but that, if you’re not careful, take away the most important thing of all: being yourself and living in freedom.

FUN FACTS

• All three films were shot at the same time
  Even though this is only the first part, Peter Jackson actually filmed The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King together over more than a year in New Zealand. This helped the story feel continuous and coherent, like one single epic adventure.
• Viggo Mortensen almost wasn’t Aragorn
  The actor who played Aragorn joined the project at the last minute. Another actor had already begun filming, but it wasn’t working out. Viggo arrived just in time… and ended up being so perfect for the role that today it’s impossible to imagine anyone else as the heir of Gondor.
• Gollum was a revolution in special effects
  Although he appears more prominently in the second film, The Fellowship of the Ring already laid the groundwork for Gollum. Andy Serkis didn’t just provide the voice—he physically performed most of the scenes, helping to create one of the first digital characters with truly realistic acting in film history.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

• Is it worth living 500 years if it means losing your identity, your mental peace, and your freedom, like what happened to Gollum?
• Is Gollum a villain by his own choice, or a victim of the Ring’s corrupting power?
• If the Ring represents the desire for absolute power, what “modern rings” do you think trap people today (money, fame, social media, control, etc.)?

“The film and script excerpts used are for educational purposes only, under fair use or quotation rights according to applicable laws. All rights belong to their respective authors and production companies.»