Aside of The Haunting in Connecticut, Flash of Genius is one of my favorite movies this year which is based on true-story account. I always liked to watch a memoir type of story-line which to me is practical and rational. Those stories somehow inspire and remind us on how ordinary people somewhere doing extra ordinary things portraying to all that's the sky is the limit!
I believe for those avid drivers out there, windshield wiper is nothing new to you right? But, do you know who invented it? I mean the present intermittent windshield wiper? Back in the circa 1940, Ford Motor Comp. (FMC) is already a titan in motor industry. In the US especially in the city of Detroit - the very heart of Ford manufacturing plant - thousands of cars are being produced every year.
Amidst all the glory they meant to deserved, the one and only problem FMC ever faced is the fact that their wiper is considered to be a hindrance - due to the continuous motion of the wiper - to the driver whenever there's drizzling or cold days during winter season.
This is where, in 1948, an inventor, Dr. Robert W. Kearns comes into history. Armed with a PhD in Electrical Engineering at hand, he invented his own version of wiper which is electrically powered by seperate entity to the engine allowing it to be operated hence without energy source from the battery. Dr. Kearns also mentioned that his wiper functions more likely as eyelids. Meaning, his version of wiper will intermittently blink for 3 seconds before resuming again, in stead of continuously wiping without halt which may distract driver's view point. With that, voila! That's the history of our present intermittent windshield wiper! Thanks to the Kearns!
I know, it's just a wiper though, so, what's the big deal? Nope. The story doesn't end there. The story started when he filed a legal suit on FMC of patent infringement of which he claimed that FMC had practically stole his idea assuming that it was their own. So, the fight begins.
To make things sad, everyone close to him including his own family (his wife - Phyllis, 2 daughters & 4 sons) abondant him leaving him alone fighting for the right he believed is destined to be his. It involves family conflicts - how a father deals with his chidren amidst chaos in his career, things he loved the most i.e. invention and the real face of the states conglomerate manipulative world, where the rich, in this case, FMC, exploits and manipulates others for their benefits.
The story of Dr. Kearns, who during the court session is represented by none but himself - no lawyers dare to sue the then, top gun of the state - dedicated his 12 years fighting for something worth than life to him with the hope that he'll bring change to America's history, with the support of ones he loved (family) pays off.
As it is written - truth prevails - at last, it is fated in the hands of the court jury that Ford's infringement was not deliberate and award him $10.1 million and the right to claim his invention as his own. He later sues the Chrysler Corporation and wins $18.7 million judgment against them.
Not only that The Kearns had shown great courage in manifesting their believes but also what's more important is their determination in the spirit of never give up despite being offered millions of dollars settlement before court - some sort of under table money to settle things before it drags into court. His story has tremendously shaped America's patent law terminologies forever and in his honor, The Society of Inventors was established.
Click here for film info & here for the life of Dr. Kearns.
To me, it's a worthwhile almost 2 hours must watch inspirational movie to remind us all of the beauties of our inner self, really. There's time in life we might feel that we're down and the world is against us but wait, remember Flash of Genius, remember Dr. Kearns bravery and his soft-deep voice saying "If I don't continue on fighting, who will?"
