A VISA Commercial

There is a commercial over which I have had concern. Richard Gere appears in a VISA commercial. The setting seems to be in the Middle East. There is an open market. A little girl, who is about 10 years old, comes to the market and she grips money tightly in her hand. It seems that she wants to buy birds which, viewers can guess, are white pigeons. She says something but that is not Japanese. Then subtitles say, “Today is my brother’s wedding.” She opens her clenched hand and says that she wants 10 birds. And a stall-man, who looks good-natured and stout, says, “You can afford only one bird with that money.” But she has no choice so she hands the money to him and buys one bird.



Richard Gere and the stall-man watch her leave. And then Richard shows his VISA card to him. They glance at each other and both smile at



The next scene goes like thus: the little girl holds a cage very carefully. Viewers can guess that there is one bird inside. She is in a plaza and there is a church over there. We can see a bride and groom in front of the church. A bell is ringing. The little girl tries to set the bird free. AT THAT MOMENT many, many birds fly into the sky from behind the little girl. She is amazed at the sight and turns around. She sees Richard Gere and the stall-man. They pretend that they don’t know anything. The girl smiles at them. And then ONLY the big letters of VISA appear in the picture.



Could this commercial be right??? Richard Gere shows the kindness that tries too hard, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he show off his money power too much?



I think that he spoils her intention that she has been saving money for buying birds to her brother’s wedding. However she ends up buying only one. He should at least have a courtesy to wait that she releases that one bird. He should have let his birds go after her bird flied into the blue sky with glee.